Important New Type
Valentinian III, Gaiseric, or Valentinian Caesar?

CNG 88, Lot: 1450. Estimate $300. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Valentinian III(?). AD 425-455. Æ (12mm, 1.66 g, 5h). Uncertain mint. D N VALENTIN[ ], pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / [SALVS REI] PVBLI[CE], camp gate with two turrets. Cf. RIC X 2123/3823 (for obv./rev.), otherwise unpublished. Near VF, green patina. Unique new type.

This new coin combines an obverse of Valentinian with a revere type known from the non-imperial coins attributed to Africa. In RIC X, Kent surmised that the Dominis Nostris coinage with camp gate were struck in Carthage during the reign of Valentinian (RIC X p. 233). This new coin confirms his dating, and also adds new evidence for the attribution of the Dominis Nostris coinage. Kent notes that of the many theories regarding he circumstances of that coinage, the most persuasive is the idea that it was struck by Count Boniface. Unfortunately, the dating of such an issue would have to be during the usurpation of Johannes (AD 423-425), but the absence of any of these coins in the Carthage II hoard suggested to Kent that such a date was too early. However, the presence of the name Valentinian on this coin may speak for such an attribution. If the coinage had been struck under Boniface, the obverse legend Dominis Nostris must refer to Theodosius II and his Caesars, Theodosius and Valentinian. Could the Valentinian of this coin be Valentinian Caesar? Probably not, but as the end of the legend is off the flan, we have no confirmation. In any event, Kent thought the Dominis Nostris coinage was struck under the Vandals, in the context of an accord between Gaiseric and Valentinian III. Under these circumstances, it is questionable whether this coin is an issue that Gaiseric struck in the name of Valentinian. The absence of any of the the other types of the Dominis Nostris coinage with the name of Valentinian lends doubt to such an attribution. A final suggestion would be that this is a heretofore unknown issue of Valentinian III that served as the prototype for this particular type in the Dominis Nostris coinage.