2021-07-03 Sat

Julius Nepotinus 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, having arrived in Rome on 3rd June.

Nepotianus was the son of Eutropia, half-sister of Emperor Constantine I, and of Virius Nepotianus. Today on 3rd June in the year 350 AD, after the revolt of Magnentius, Nepotianus proclaims himself Roman emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators. After 28 days of rule, Nepotian was captured and executed by troops loyal to Magnentius.

Depicted here is a bronze Centenionalis issued under his reign from Rome. The obverse of a coin depicts the 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.

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.

Image Source: Wikipedia.org