An Unlisted D N Valen Per F Avg Secvritas Reipvblicae Ae-3 From Antioch

In what is a most fortuitous event, I purchased and just received an AE-3 of Valens (364-378 AD) that is unlisted in RIC.

What makes the coin so interesting is that the obverse legend, D N VALENS PER F AVG, is only known from the gold and silver issues struck in his name, not bronze coins.

The reverse of this SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE has the Greek field markings Phi / Theta in the left-hand field and Kappa in the right. These field markings, in this order, on this type, are known from a single coin of Gratian from Antioch, which is listed as RIC, IX, #49 and categorized as "Rarity 5" in RIC.

What makes this purchase even more interesting is that I was completely unaware of this rare type until a couple of weeks ago when, in response to a CCF post of mine on another Valens coin, two CCF members made mention of this rare type.

Just a few days later I was quite shocked to come across this coin, offered as an ordinary Valens SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, on ebay. One other person bid on it, but I picked it up for a very modest price.





In my post about the other Valens, CCF member "iulius" provided me with a link to a scholarly article about the discovery of this type:

https://www.cen-numismatique.com/a-...enato-campo/

Here is the link to my previous post which also provides a photo of another example of this type, but from a different officinae. So far, these are the only two other examples I have been able to find in my online research.

http://goccf.com/t/372544