I bought a cheapo Jovian more than a year ago, and finally found a suitable upgrade!
DN IOVIANVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
VOT V MVLT X within wreath.
Mintmark ASIRM.
RIC VIII Sirmium 118
Jovian was the young, up-and-coming captain of the guard when Julian II was mortally wounded on his Persian campaign in June 363. After a brief and uncertain interregnum, Jovian was elevated to the purple by the vote of the army. He continued the retreat from Sassanian territory, but was headed off at the Tigris, and had to sue for peace on humiliating terms. Jovian was a Christian, and rapidly moved to uproot the pagan revival instigated by his predecessor, ordering the library at Antioch burned in late 363, apparently at the behest of his wife.
No sooner had his reign gotten off the ground that he was found dead in his tent in February 364, apparently suffocated from the carbon monoxide from an unventilated barbecue. He had ruled less than 8 months.
Posted 01/26/2018 6:02 pm
