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Auction: 5003 - Ancient, Islamic, English & Foreign Coins & Comm. Medals
Lot: 164

Eugenius (A.D. 392-394), AV Solidus, 4.45g., Lugdunum, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, d n evgeni-vs p f avg, rev. victor-ia avgg, two emperors, nimbate, enthroned facing, holding between them a globe, the emperor on right holding a mappa, Victory behind them with outspread wings, palm-branch below, l-d in field, com in exergue (RIC 45; C 6; BMC ???), a superb example, one tiny insignificant surface mark in obverse field, extremely fine, extremely rare Estimate £ 7,000-8,000 Found Shalfleet, Isle of Wight, 2003 Following the death of the western emperor Valentinian II in May A.D. 392, Eugenius was elevated to the title of Augustus by the Frankish magister militum Arbogast on 22 August. Eugenius had served as magister scrinii prior to taking the throne and was an experienced teacher in rhetoric. He was in effect used as a puppet emperor by Arbogast, whose military command he could not defy. Eugenius was a Christian, but the bearded portrait appearing on his coins illustrates his tolerance of Pagan ritual. He occupied Italy with his army in 393, causing the eastern emperor Theodosius I to respond with his own armed forces. The two sides met at the battle of Frigidus in 394 where Eugenius was defeated and executed. Arbogast fled and committed suicide shortly after.

Sold for
£11,000