Nummus - Valens GLORIA ROMANORVM, Cyzicus

Valens received the eastern half of the empire from his brother Valentinian I in 364, a division made within weeks of Valentinian's own accession — the arrangement was pragmatic, not ceremonial, driven by the immediate pressure of barbarian incursions on multiple frontiers simultaneously. The Cyzicus mint, one of the most productive in the eastern empire, was brought back to full operation specifically to supply the new Valentinianic administration with coinage. RIC IX 8b is distinguished from the closely related 8a by its officina letter and reverse field marks, details that matter for attribution but reflect nothing more dramatic than routine workshop rotation at the mint.