Julian, Roman Emperor

Antioch

1 Nomisma = 1 Solidus

Copper alloy (bronze or brass)

Struck

Disc or similar (ellipse, etc.)

1.90 cm

1.90 cm

- cm

Mass (g)	Mass (grain)	Date of measurement	Reference	fragmented	cleaned	reference weight
4.34	-	-	Auction Leu 2019	No	No	Yes

Symbol	Technique	Direction	Position	Number	Synecdoche
Roman Emperor	Stamped / Countermarked / Struck	RIGHT		One	Bust
Aequitas / Justitia / Moneta	Stamped / Countermarked / Struck	LEFT	Standing	One
Balance scale	Stamped / Countermarked / Struck			One
Cornucopia	Stamped / Countermarked / Struck			One

Auction Leu 2019: Lot 879. Julian II, 360-363. Exagium Solidi (Bronze, 19 mm, 4.34 g, 5 h), Antiochia on the Orontes, spring 363. FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Julian II to right. Rev. IVS-TITA / ANT Justitia standing front, head to left, holding scales in her right hand and scroll in her left. Bendall -. Cohen -. Istanbul -. Pera -. RIC -. Roma 14 (2017), 816 (same dies). Silifke -. Of the highest rarity, apparently the second known example and of great historical interest. Patina stripped, otherwise, good very fine. We are fortunate in that a law of Julian II has survived in the Codex Theodosianus, which deals with the common practice of clipping solidi and which formed the background for the emergence of the exagia solidi in the 2nd half of the 4th century: 'Emperor Julian Augustus to Mamertinus, Praetorian Prefect. The purchase and sale of solidi are impeded if the solidi are clipped or diminished in size, or nibbled away, to use the proper term for such avarice, since some persons refuse to accept such solidi on the ground that they are light and inadequate. Therefore, it is Our pleasure to establish in each municipality an official called by the Greek word zygostates (lit. 'weigher), who by reason of his trustworthiness and vigilance will neither deceive nor be deceived, so that in accordance with his judgment and reliabilty he may settle any dispute that may arise between the seller and the buyer with respect to solidi. - Given on the ninth day before the kalends of May at Salona in the year of the fourth consulship of Julian Augustus and the consulship of Sallustius [= April 23, 363].' (Cod. Theod. XII.7,2). The present exagium shows that the new law was initially accompanied by a very small series of imperial weights struck by the mint of Antiochia praising Justitia, which were soon replaced by weights bearing the legend EXAGIVM SOLIDI (Bendall 1 = MAH 419), perhaps to avoid any risk of confusion between weights and coins.
Asolati 2022: Exagia solidi imperiali privi dell’indicazione esplicita della funzione: Giuliano III, 363 d.C., [exagium solidi]. Zecca di Antiochia. D/ FL CL IVLI–ANVS P F AVG; busto diademato, drappeggiato e corazzato a d. R/ IVS–TITIA; Iustitia stante a s. con bilancia e cornucopia; in esergo, ANT. a. Leu, Auction 4 (25/05/2019), lotto n. 879: g 4,34; mm 19; h 5.

No

Language	Technique	Legend type
Latin	Stamped / Countermarked / Struck	Authority, Denomination, Legal status, Mint

FLCLIVLI       ANVSPFAVG

I V S       T I T I A
ANT

Fl(avius) Cl(audius) Iuli|anus P(ius) F(elix) Aug(ustus). || Ius|titia | Ant(iochia)

LATE ROMAN AND BYZANTINE

FROM 363 TO None

Asolati 2022: suggests a production during the year 363.

Name	Date of acquisition	Inventory number
Antiquities Trade	May 25, 2019	None

Reference	Page/Column	Reference (number)	Plate / Figure	Comment
Auction Leu 2019b	None	879	fig.	None
Asolati 2022	263, 273	21a	Pl. IV/21a	None

Asolati 2022: cf. Bendall 1996, –; Ladich 2018.