The Battle of Hadrianopolis: Beginning of the End of Rome: Box of 2 Roman Bronze Coins (Two-Coin budget Box)

Defeat at Hadrianopolis

The Beginning of the End of the Roman Empire

Valens became the Eastern Roman Emperor in 364 CE.

Although a fine administrator, Valens was not an effective military man, leading a series of unsuccessful campaigns against the Goths.

In 378, at Hadrianopolis, he stubbornly refused to wait for reinforcements led by his nephew Gratian, hoping not to share the glory of victory. Instead, Valens attacked an army much larger than his, and he perished.

Gratian ascended to the throne of the Western Empire in 375 CE. A capable military leader in his youth, he lost the army soon after the disaster at Hadrianopolis. He was killed in a coup in 383.

The decisive defeat at Hadrianopolis heralded the disintegration of the Empire, which continued to lose territory and influence until the city of Rome was finally sacked by the Visigoths in 410.

Coin 1

Valens 367-375 AD, AE 17.5mm 2.24gm

Obv: DN VALENS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right

Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor walking right, head left, holding labarum, and grasping bound captive at the top of the head, R in right field. Mintmark dot ASISЄ

Ref: RIC 14, Cohen 11

Coin 2

Gratian 367-375 AD, AE 16.5mm2.24gm

Obv: DN GRATIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Emperor standing facing, head left, dragging bound captive, and labarum bearing a Chi-Rho; Dot over M left field, R over O right field. Mintmark ΔSISC

Ref: RIC IX Siscia 14

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Sku# 3250