Solidus - Julianus II VIRTVS EXERCITVS ROMANORVM, Constantinopolis

Julian II issued this solidus during his brief reign following the death of Constantius II, a period in which he aggressively courted military loyalty by invoking old Roman martial virtues his predecessor had largely abandoned in favor of Christian imagery. The VIRTVS EXERCITVS ROMANORVM type was part of that calculated appeal — struck at Constantinople to signal continuity with the eastern capital while Julian himself was preparing his catastrophic Persian campaign of 363.

He died from a spear wound during the retreat from Ctesiphon, ending both the reign and the pagan restoration he had staked it on. Gold solidi of his reign had fewer than three years to accumulate.