The Last Pagan

I have read several old threads regarding Julian II (Apostate) and my fascination with this late Emperor is two-fold:-
Firstly he is named after my good self (Yes, Jules is a shortened form of Julian).
Secondly, his attempt to push back against Christianity and re-instate Paganism and worship of the old Gods as standard across the Empire once again.
After reading a @Curtisimo thread from last year I resolved to research Julian II and so ended up purchasing the following book (Which may have been referenced in an older post on these forums).



I wont bore you all with the details but I have to say that it was an amazing book written by a historian and it has totally convinced me that Julian is a great name to have, but I digress
So, I needed a coin! One I could afford that is. One with a Bull on the reverse would have been fantastic.
A quick search of auction sites soon revealed that Julian II coins were quite hard to get hold of on a tight budget (Unless you are @dougsmit and I recall he purchased a $7 one at a coin fare or something similar).
But I persisted and I`m glad I did as some weeks ago I managed to get in under the radar with a cheeky bid on an auction and luckily won this coin as the only bidder. (No Bull, this time)



Julian II (The Apostate) AE 3; 20 mm, 2.96 g, Constantinople mint 362-363 AD
Obv: D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS P F AVG Bust of Julian, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, left, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand
REV: VOT X MVLT XX over 4 lines within a wreath. CONSPA in ex with branches on either side. RIC 166 (Scarce), RCV 19176

Aside from the wear and tear, I really like that I won a Constantinople mint as this was the city of Julian`s birth and also the fact that this coin was issued whilst Julian II had only a few months (not more than 18) before his death on that Achilles heel of campaigns for the Romans, the Persian empire.

Please share your examples of Julian II again and any other titbits of information you may have including reference material. Thank you.

 

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Sounds like an interesting book, @JulesUK! Here's a Julian II:


Julian II, 361-363.
Roman Silvered AE 3 Centenionalis; 3.16 g. 18.3 mm.
Antioch mint, AD 362-363.
Obv: D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F, helmeted and cuirassed bust, left, holding spear and shield.
Rev: VOT X MVLT XX, legend within wreath; in exergue: ANTA between two palm fronds.
Refs: RIC 220; Cohen 151; RCV 19181; LRBC 2642.


If you are wondering who was the last pagan deity to be depicted on Roman coins, it was Venus on the folles of Galeria Valeria:


Galeria Valeria, AD 293(?)-311.
Roman Æ Follis, 26 mm, 6.64 gm.
Nicomedia mint, 308-310 CE.
Obv: GAL VAL-ERIA AVG, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: VENERI VI-CTRICI CMH, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple and drapery; in exergue, SMNA.

 

Very nice! Always good to find a bargain. The book looks interesting too - my my ‘to read’ pile is so large I need to avoid temptation. Here’s my ‘Jules’ though:

Imperial Rome
Julian II, r. 360-363 A.D.
AE3, 20 mm x 3.29 grams
Obv.: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG. Helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust of Julian left
Rev.: VOT / X / MVLT / XX. In four lines, laurel wreath around, palm branch ASISC• in exergue
Ref.: SRCV 19171

 

Julian II, The Apostate (355 - 363 A.D.)
Æ3
O: D N CL IVLIANVS NOB CAES, Bare head, draped and cuirassed right.
R: FEL TEMP REPARATIO. Helmeted soldier to l., shield on l. arm, spearing falling horseman; shield on ground r. Horseman turns head to soldier and extends l. arm. M in l. field, BSIRM star in exergue.
Sirmium Mint, 355-61 A.D.
19mm
2.24g
RIC 78

Scarce

 

Nice writeup, @JulesUK , nice "no bull coin", and I am interested in getting that book. Thanks.

NO BULL:


RI Julian II 360-363 CE Fallen Horseman AE3

 

Also I recommend the book "Julian" by Gore Vidal. It is a fictionalized account of his life based on the historical sources, probably the most complete of which is Ammianus Marcellinus.

 

I've just been reading about Julian in Gibbon, and now on a discussion of the Arian controversy which is so tedious and pointless that I am desperate to get back to Julian. I also found what I read about him quite admirable and immediately started browsing coins. I'll be adding your book recommendation to my wish list for sure.

 

While he was one of the the last pagans, his final words were supposedly "Thou hast conquered, Galilean." The words were celebrated by Christian apologists as Julian acknowledging that Christ had triumphed against Julian's effort to turn back the clock.

 

Jovian his successor immediatly ended paganism and restored Christianity:

 

@ancient coin hunter That will definitely be on my list.

@Roman Collector Very interesting about Venus being the last Pagan deity.

For everyone else, I will type out the first few lines of the book I posted and let you decide if its an "Attention grabber".

At around midnight a man died in a tent roughly eighty-five kilometres North of the capital of what is now Iraq. It was the end of June, AD 363 and with him paganism died.
A month after his thirty-first birthday, Flavius Claudius Julianus, better known as Julian the Apostate, had been ruler of the Roman empire for less than two years.......
(Source: The Last Pagan, Adrian Murdoch, Sutton publishing, 2005. ISBN 0-7509-4048-4)

 

By Jove! Isn't Jovian a great name for a Christian.

 

I have two Julians and I have a bid out on another.





Julian II (Augustus)
Coin: Bronze Double Maiorina
D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG - Pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Julian right
SECVRITAS REIPVB - Apis bull standing right, two stars above horns
Exergue: ASIRM



Mint: Sirmium (361-363AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 7.95g / 28mm / 360
References:
RIC VIII 106
Acquisition/Sale: xcelatorx Ebay $0.00 7/17
Notes: Oct 13, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection





Julian II (Caesar)
Coin: Silver Siliqua
DN IVLANV-S NOB CAES - Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right
VOTIS V MVLTIS X - Four lines within wreath with large central jewel. Mintmark TCON
Exergue: TCON


Mint: Arelate (Arles) mint, (355-360 AD)
Wt./Size/Axis: 2.52g / 19mm / 6h
References:
RIC VIII 264
RSC 154b
Acquisition/Sale: macvanderstein Ebay $0.00 09/18
Notes: Sep 23, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection.

 

Since I have been outed as a cheapskate, I will point out that I no longer have the $7 bull. I can't remember what I did with it but it probably was given to someone if it was not in a JAZ sale. (If anyone has it now, let me know.) I have been giving away and selling more coins lately since my participation in CT has made me a bit more of a condition snob and I have too many. I no longer buy coins like this just because I don't have one from this mint and because it was $7.


The reason this coin was $7 and the reason I found it was expendable is that corrosion had pretty much eaten away Julian's eye. The coin has a rough surface and both of those things bothered me more than its lack of wear (full diadem VF?) could offset. I kept coins some of you would consider much worse. The Antioch below was $20 in 1989. That was too much then and it should not sell for any more than that today because of the scratches and wear. If you can afford nice coins, be sure that what you are buying really are nice coins and not full of problems like damage or wear being sold by dealers who conveniently overlook such matters when selling to beginners. If you can not afford nice coins, I see nothing wrong with having coins like these in your collection but just remember that 30 years from now you will not be selling them for a profit. The profit from such coins is in the thrill of having a bull. I have received many times over the price paid for many such coins in enjoyment that lasted longer than a $20 meal at a mid-level restaurant. J-bulls are not rare but approach the status of Tribute Pennies and Widow's Mites where there is appeal due to their religious connections. Buy smart.

 

My local library has been de-accessioning a lot of books recently, including ancient history ($0.25 each, first come first served). A while back I snagged this one on Julian the Apostate by Alice Gardner, published in 1895. It is part of the "Heroes of the Nations" series.

As history, I suppose it is "obsolete" but it seems pretty well-researched and substantial from what I have seen - including lots of coin photos. But I haven't read it yet. The library still has a copy - this was a duplicate, thank goodness!

 

Fun write up and coin!
Love Julian ll! Very well educated man that wasn’t just gonna sell out and go quietly into the darkness that has struck men dumb for the last couple millennia.


Julian II AD 360-363. Nicomedia
Double Maiorina Æ
27mm., 8,68g.
D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REI PVB, bull standing right, two stars above, (palm)-NIKΓ-(palm) in exergue.
very fine
RIC 121; LRBC 2319


Julian The Apostate
360-363 CE
-as Augustus 361-363. Centenionalis (3.58 g), Herakleia. Officer 1st Av.: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG, helmet bust with spear and shield left. Rv.: VOT/XMVLT/XX in wreath below SMHA. RIC:-(Sigle). R cf


Julian II
As Caesar, AD 355-360. Æ Aquileia mint, 3rd officina. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right; M behind / Soldier standing left, holding shield and spearing fallen horseman; shield on ground to right; AQT(palm). RIC VIII 223; LRBC 940.

 

Here is an example from my collection. The mint of Antioch produced the nicest busts of Julian II in my view. This coin has a almost medallic character. I like it a lot, especially since it was a very good deal on French Ebay.

 

Jovian, the commander of the guard and successor to Julian who concluded a shameful treaty with the Persians. He died on the way back to Constantinople from fumes of a charcoal brazier in his room that interacted with the chemicals from freshly plastered walls, according to the sources. Probably carbon monoxide.

 

Possibly the hand of the same celator from a bit later on under Iovian. He was possibly the one carving officina B coins at Antioch during this period.

 

I have the above piece from the third officina of Antioch. The coins is far from perfect, but I am particularly font of this piece.

 

..nice coin(s)...he is on my to get list on the imperial side.