Roman Silver Siliqua of Emperor Valens / Ex. East Harptree Hoard

Code: 12121

This is an ancient Roman silver Siliqua of emperor Valens, dating to 367 - 375 A.D.

Obverse: D N VALEN S P F AVG "Our Lord Valens, Pious and Blessed August" pearl-diademed draped and cuirassed bust facing right

Reverse: VRBS-ROMA "City of Rome" Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and sceptre

This coin was minted in Rome, mintmark R-Q. Q (for quarta), QVARTA or the 4th Officina. It had travelled across the English Channel, being found in the East Harptree Hoard in 1887. Coins from this hoard are of exceptional quality and show dark toning. Somerset Hoard (found 1887, published by Evans, J. in NC (1888) p. 22-46 and Robertson, A., Inventory of Romano-British Coin Hoards, 1424). out of the original 1496 coins in the hoard, only 199 siliquae were of Valens and only 99 of these were from the Rome mint, making this a very rare coin with superb provenance.

DENOMINATION: Siliqua

MATERIAL: Silver

DATE: 367 - 375 AD (this coin was minted between 364 - 367 AD)

MINTMARK: R-Q (Rome, Italy)

SIZE: 18mm diameter

WEIGHT: 2.06 grams

ATTRIBUTION: RIC IX Rome 11b; RSC 109e.

PROVENANCE: Originally found in the East Harptree Hoard, Somerset.