Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 1133. Estimate $50000.  Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2003.  Sold For $48000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JOVINUS. 411-413 AD. AV Solidus (4.43 gm). Arelate (Arles) mint. D N IOVIN-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / RESTITV-TOR REIP, Jovinus standing right, resting left foot on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe; A-R/KOMOB. RIC X 1708 var. (COMOB mintmark); Depeyrot 23/2 var. (same); DOCLR -. Superb EF. Extremely rare and unpublished with this mintmark. (See color enlargement on plate 18.) ($50,000) 

From the William H. Williams Collection. Ex Dürr & Michel (8 November 1999), lot 116; Leu 7 (9 May 1973), lot 453. 

The KOMOB form of mintmark is only known on Constantinople mint solidi of Honorius and Constantine III.

Jovinus was a Gallo-Roman noble who, with the support of Burgundians, Alamanni, and Franks, usurped power in Gaul during the autumn of 411. Virtually nothing is known of Jovinus' short reign, although it is apparent that he enjoyed substantial support as he controlled the three mints of Lugdunum, Treveri, and Arelate. In 412, he proclaimed his brother Sebastian co-emperor, but before the end of the following year, they were both dead as a result of the treachery of the Goth Athulfus.