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Eugenius. AD 392-394. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 392 or 393. D N EVGENI VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTOR IA AVGG, Theodosius I and Eugenius enthroned facing, holding a globe between them; Victory facing above throne with wings spread; palm frond between; L|D//COM. RIC IX 45; Lyon 229; Depeyrot 18/1; Biaggi –; Mazzini 6 v. Small flan flaw on reverse. In NGC encapsulation 5778951-003, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, flan flaw. Extremely rare.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 52 (7 October 2009), lot 642; Numismatica Ars Classica 38 (21 March 2007), lot 283 (hammer CHF 32,000); Triton III (30 November 1999), lot 1245.
Although nominally a Christian, Flavius Eugenius presided over Paganism’s last grasp at power during his brief reign in the waning years of the fourth century AD. Eugenius held a respected but unimportant position in the Western Roman government when, in AD 392, the half-barbarian generalissimo Arbogast chose him to replace the boy emperor Valentinian II, who had committed suicide in despair over his role as a powerless figurehead. A former professor of rhetoric, Eugenius wore a long beard in honor of the great philosophers of the past. This was taken as a visible sign of sympathy by the Pagan aristocracy of Rome, which had seen its position fade to that of a persecuted minority under the zealous Catholic Theodosius I, emperor of the East. Arbogast and Eugenius sent embassies to Constantinople in an attempt to gain formal recognition of the new Western regime and even struck coins recognizing Theodoius as co-ruler. To bolster support in Rome, Eugenius made overtures to the Pagans, who responded enthusiastically. This provided exactly the casus belli sought by Theodosius, who in mid-AD 394 marched his army westward to crush the Pagan revival. Arbogast and Eugenius mustered the Western legions under the old Pagan standards of Jupiter and met Theodosius at the Frigidus river in northern Italy on September 5, AD 394. The first day of battle went well for the Western forces, but on the second day, a furious wind blew into the face of Arbogast’s army and a timely assault by Theodosius routed the Western forces. Eugenius was summarily executed while Arbogast fell on his sword. Theodosius, convinced God had intervened to bring him victory, launched an immediate pogrom against all remaining Pagans and Catholic Christianity held absolute sway in Western Europe for another 1,100 years.
The final winners of all Triton XXV lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 11-12 January 2022. Triton XXV – Session Three – Roman Republican & Imperatorial Coinage through Byzantine Coinage will be held Wednesday morning, 12 January 2022 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.
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