2020-06-30 Tue

Julius Nepotianus also known as Nepotian, was a member of the Constantinian dynasty who reigned as a short-lived usurper of the Roman Empire. He ruled the city of Rome for twenty-eight days, before being killed by his rival usurper Magnentius' general Marcellinus.

Flavius Julius Nepotianus Constantinus was a nephew of Constantine the Great. On 3rd June in the year 350 AD, after the revolt of Magnentius, Nepotianus proclaims him Roman emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators. After 28 days rule, Nepotian was captured and executed by troops loyal to Magnentius.

The coinage of Nepotian is excessively rare given his brief reign of only 28 days. The monetary system under Nepotian maintained the proper weights of the period and included both a gold solidus as well as the bronze centenionalis.

The above shown bronze centenionalis bearing his claimed title of Augustus. The obverse of a coin depicts bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Nepotian right. The reverse shows the Nepotian on horseback right, spearing enemy; shield and broken spear beneath the horse, star in upper right field.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org