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AE4 of Valentinian II With Victory Advancing Left Reverse

These tiny bronze coins range in size from about 15mm on down to less than 13mm with some pieces occasionally reaching 16mm. The reverse legend is SALVS REIPVBLICAE, which is an invocation of hope for the "Health of the Republic."

These coins were struck under Gratian, Valentinian II, Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius I. Mintmarks are present in the exergue on the reverse of the coin if they haven't been worn away and if the coin was reasonably well centered when struck. The mintmark appears to be SMKS, which would indicate that the coin was struck at the sixth workshop of the Kyzikos mint (now part of modern Turkey).

Latin letters P, S, T, and Q were used for the officina, or workshop letter in the West while the Greek letters A through I were used for this purpose in the East. The use of the Latin letter S for the sixth workshop is an odd exception to this rule. The officina letter is usually found in this case at the right of the mintmark.

A P - headed cross is often seen in the left field in place of the cross present in this example.

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