Valerius Valens

Valens was one of Licinius's best generals. During the first major confrontation with Constantine I, Licinius named Valens co-emperor to spite him. As the inevitable war came to an unsuccessful close for Licinius the two arranged for a truce which found him not only losing more territory to Constantine but also called for the ousting and execution of Valens.

Valens remained in power for too brief a time for any appreciable amount of coins to be made in his name. They are thus exceedingly rare today. However, with the fall of the Iron Curtain traffic in antiquities from the regions where those coins would most likely be found has resumed. It may therefore be expected that more coins of Valens will eventually be found.

AE3

RIC 7 (Cyzicus), C 1 AE3 Obv: IMPCAVRVALVALENSPFAVG - Laureate head right.
Rev: IOVICONSERVATORI Exe: I/SKM - Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and scepter; eagle to left. 316 (Cyzicus).