Owner Comments:
Gratian, Western Roman Empire (AD 367-383). AV solidus (21mm, 4.46 gm, 12h). NGC MS 4/5 - 3/5. Constantinople, AD 379-383. Unlisted Bust Type for Issue. D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Gratian right, viewed from front / CONCOR-DIA AVGGG, Constantinopolis seated facing on leonine throne, helmeted head right, scepter in right hand, globe in left, right foot on prow; CONOB in exergue. RIC IX -, cf. 44a (rosette-diademed).
Gratian (Γρατιανός) April 18, 359 – August 25, 383, was Roman emperor from 367 to 383. The eldest son of Valentinian I, Gratian accompanied, during his youth, his father on several campaigns along the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Upon the death of Valentinian in 375, Gratian's brother Valentinian II was declared emperor by his father's soldiers. Gratian went along with this, and let Valentinian II run his part of the empire. In 378, Gratian's generals won a decisive victory over the Lentienses, a branch of the Alamanni, at the Battle of Argentovaria. Gratian subsequently led a campaign across the Rhine, the last emperor to do so, and attacked the Lentienses, forcing the tribe to surrender. That same year, his uncle Valens was killed in the Battle of Adrianople against the Goths. Gratian removed the Altar of Victory from the Roman Senate.
For some years Gratian governed the Empire with energy and success, earning the esteem of the army and people by his personal courage and justice, but at length, being deprived by death of some of his abler counselors, the promising young emperor neglected public affairs, and occupied himself chiefly with the hunting. He alienated the army and German auxiliaries by his favoritism towards his Frankish general Merobaudes and a body of Scythian archers whom he made his body-guard and companions in the hunt.
By appearing in public in the dress of a Scythian warrior, after the disaster of the Battle of Adrianople, he finally exasperated his army. One of his generals, Magnus Maximus, took advantage of this feeling to raise the standard of revolt in Britain and invaded Gaul with a large army. From Paris, Gratian, having been deserted by his troops, fled to Lyon. There, through the treachery of the governor, Gratian was delivered over to one of the rebel generals, Andragathius, and assassinated on 25 August 383.