Gratian AD 367-383 Silver Siliqua Trier The Colkirk Hoard

Gratian AD 367-383 Silver Siliqua The Colkirk Hoard

Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right/ Roma enthroned

Trier mint

17mm, 1.85g

Catalogue Number: 218

This coin is from the Colkirk Hoard, found near Colkirk in Norfolk by a metal detectorist between 2020 and 2022. It comprised 432 Roman silver coins, mostly siliquae from Constantius II (AD 323-361) to Honorius (AD 393-423). Dating to the end of the Roman era in Britain this find and others represent a turbulent time for the Roman Empire and its citizens.

The hoard was declared Treasure and subsequently disclaimed then returned to the finder & landowner who chose to sell a significant part of the hoard via Silbury Coins. We have produced an information booklet, a copy of this will be sent with each coin and is also available online here. A detailed catalogue can also be viewed on the Portable Antiquities website here.

 A rare & exciting opportunity to own a coin from a fully provenanced and researched treasure find.

 To see the other coins from this find for sale please view the ‘Coin Hoards’ category on our website.

Gratian was the son of Valentinian I and was born in AD359. He was made consul when only seven and in the following year became co emperor of the Western Empire. When he married Constantia in AD374 he established a link with the House of Constantine. Upon the sudden death of Valentinian I in AD 375 Gratian became sole emperor of the Western Empire. Meanwhile his half-brother Valentinian II was also declared emperor by the army of the Danube. Realizing that a Civil War would be disastrous Gratian accepted this usurper.
In AD378 Valens, the emperor of the Eastern Empire, was killed in the catastrophic defeat at Hadrianopolis Gratian faced a crisis as Valentinian II was too young to govern the east. Gratian instead appointed Theodosius as co emperor and ruler of the East. This was a surprising appointment as Theodosius’ father had earlier been executed for high treason.
The next few years saw increasing tension between the two empires until in AD 383 Magnus Maximus the military commander in Britain rebelled and was declared emperor by his troops. Magnus Maximus crossed to Gaul where Gratian confronted him near Lutetia. (Paris). Deserted by his army Gratian fled but was captured near Lugdunum and executed.