WESTERN ROMAN VALENTINIAN I AD 364-375 AE3 Nummus /Rev.Christian Chi-Rho NGC (9)

 WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE



CERTIFIED BY NGC



VALENTINIAN I  AD 364-375 AE3 Nummus



Decline and Fall of Rome.

Obverse: Bust of Valentinian I, right,
pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed.



Lettering: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG



Translation: Dominus Noster Valentinianus Pious Felix Augustus: "Our Lord
Valentinian, pious and blessed august".

Reverse: Emperor walking right, head left, grasping bound captive at the top of
the head with right hand and holding labarum with left hand.

Mintmark in exergue.

The labarum was a vexillum (military
standard) that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, a christogram formed from the
first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" (Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) - Chi
(χ) and Rho (ρ). It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the
vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was
ideally suited to symbolize the crucifixion of Christ.



Ancient sources draw an unambiguous distinction between the two terms "labarum"
and "Chi-Rho", even though later usage sometimes regards the two as synonyms.
The name labarum was applied both to the original standard used by Constantine
the Great and to the many standards produced in imitation of it in the Late
Antique world, and subsequently.



The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by some
Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi
and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = KRistos = Christ in such a way to
produce the monogram. Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho
invokes the authority of Jesus, as well as symbolising his status as the Christ.



The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin,
a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho
standing for chrēston, meaning "good." Some coins of Ptolemy III Euergetes (r.
246-222 BC) were marked with a Chi-Rho.



The Chi-Rho symbol was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I (r. 306-337) as
part of a military standard (vexillum), Constantine's standard was known as the
Labarum.

Valentinian I - Augustus: 364-375 A.D.



 364-367 A.D. - Sole Reign | 367-375 A.D. Senior Augustus with Gratian |

Ruling in the East: Valens (364-378 A.D.) & Procopius (365-366 A.D.)



| Brother of Valens | Husband of Severa and Justina | Father (by Severa) of
Gratian and (by Justina) of Valentinian II and Galla | Father-in-law of
Theodosius I and Constantia (daughter of Constantius II) | Grandfather of Galla
Placidia | Great-grandfather of Valentinian III and Honoria |



Flavius Valentinianus, known in English as Valentinian I, (321 - November 17,
375) was Roman Emperor from 364 until his death. Valentinian is often referred
to as the "last great western emperor". Both he and his brother Emperor Valens
were born at Cibalae (modern days Vinkovci, Croatia), in Pannonia, the sons of a
successful general, Gratian the Elder.