Some contemporary historians of Procopius claim that Julian II had meant for the general to succeed him instead of Jovian. Whether true or not, Jovian gained the throne and Procopius, an otherwise well-regarded general, dimmed in the background. Jovian soon died, however, and Valentinian became the next emperor. Procopius still had an itch for the position and began to make his moves. Biding his time carefully, he waited for Valentinian's brother and colleague, Valens, to leave on an expedition and with the help of a few key conspirators had himself proclaimed emperor. Because now Valens was away with the bulk of his troops there was nothing that could be immediately done about the insurrection and Procopius was able to hold on to Constantinople and a few adjacent provinces.
By the time Valens had wrapped up with his initial conflict, Procopius had been unable to secure the loyalty of several leading generals and his power base dwindled as Valens approached. Seeing that all was lost he fled but was captured and executed.
AU Solidus
RIC 1 (VIII, Nicomedia), Depeyrot 15/1 Solidus Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: SMN∈ - Procopius standing facing, holding spear and resting hand on shield. 365-366 (Nicomedia).
RIC 2b (Constantinople) Solidus Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: CONS - Procopius standing facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. 365-366 (Constantinopolis). $19,011 12/5/02.
AR Siliqua
RIC 3a (Cyzicus), C 14f Siliqua Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: No legend Exe: KV - Wreath, VOT/V within.
RIC 6(IX, Nicomedia), C 14 Siliqua Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: No legend Exe: SMN - Wreath, VOT/V within. 365-366 (Nicomedia). RIC 13e.6 (Constantinople), C 14 Siliqua Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VOT/V Exe: C• - Wreath, legend within. [RIC emission VI is for officina A]. RIC 13e.11 (Constantinople), C 14 Siliqua Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VOT/V Exe: •C• - Wreath, legend within. [RIC emission XI is for officina Γ]. $2,652 6/25/03. RIC 13e.14 (Constantinople), C 14 Siliqua Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VOT/V Exe: •C• - Wreath, legend within. [RIC emission XIV is for officina Z]. $450 2/4/04.
AE3
RIC 7 (Cyzicus), LRBC 2525 AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: SMK - Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield.
RIC 7.3 (Heraclea) AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: •/SMHA - Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. [Dot in left field]. 366 (Heraclea). RIC 7.5 (Heraclea) AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: •/SMHA - Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. [Dot in right field]. 366 (Heraclea). RIC 7.viii (Heraclea) AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: SMH - Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. (Heraclea). RIC 10.2 (Nicomedia), LRBC 2331 AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARTIOFELTEMP Exe: SMNΓ - Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. (Nicomedia). RIC 10.3 (Nicomedia), LRBC 2331 AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARTIOFELTEMP Exe: •/SMN - Procopius standing, facing, holding labarum and resting hand on shield. $295 7/1/04. RIC 17a (Constantinople), LRBC 2082 AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: CONS• - Procopius standing facing, head right, holding labarum in right hand, left resting on shield set on the ground; Chi-rho in upper right field and unidentified object in left at foot. $545 2/20/03. RIC 19 (Constantinople) AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed (pearls), draped, cuirassed bust right. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: CONS - Procopius standing facing, head right, holding spear and resting left on shield. Unlisted AE3 Obv: DNPROCOPIVSPFAVG - Diademed, cuirassed bust right. Rev: REPARATIOFELTEMP Exe: CONS - Procopius standing facing, head right, holding spear and resting left on shield. 365-366 (Constantinopolis). $80 2/7/03.