The Usurper Nepotian

271, Lot: 97. Estimate $2000. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Nepotian. Usurper, AD 350. Æ (22mm, 5.38 g, 6h). Rome mint, 2nd officina. Struck 3-30 June. FL NEP CONST ANTINVS AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VROS (sic) ROMA, Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe in extended right hand and spear in right; shield at side; RS. RIC VIII 203 var.; LRBC 644 var. Near VF, brown surfaces, scratches.

Property of Princeton Economics acquired by Martin Armstrong. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica I (19 May 1999), lot 2379; Münzhandlung Basel 1 (28 June 1934), lot 2197.

Beginning in AD 350, the western portion of the Roman Empire underwent a period of rebellion and usurpation. Magnentius, a member of the Roman bureaucracy, taking advantage of the troubles of Constantius II with Persia, revolted and murdered Constans, the western emperor. Unable to go west and subdue Magnentius, Constantius II apparently allowed for two “legal” usurpations to occur: that of Nepotian in Rome, and Vetranio in Siscia. After only 28 days of rule, however, Nepotian was captured and executed by troops loyal to Magnentius. The failure of both Nepotian and Vetranio to stop Magnentius prompted Constantius II to appoint his cousin Gallus as Caesar. While Gallus held down the east, Constantius II could then head west to put down the rebellion of Magnentius and restore order.