Jovian Roman AE (AD 363-364) NGC

Own a certified Roman bronze AE of Jovian (AD 363–364), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin connects to a brief but pivotal reign during one of the Roman Empire’s most precarious moments.

Jovian was the son of the commander of the imperial bodyguards (the protectores domestici) under Emperor Constantius II. Rising through the ranks, he became a senior general under Emperor Julian. When Julian was killed during his Persian campaign in 363 AD, the army, stranded deep in enemy territory, quickly elected Jovian as emperor.

Faced with overwhelming odds, Jovian was forced to negotiate a difficult peace treaty with the Persian King Shapur II, ceding significant Roman territories to secure the army’s safe return. Though unpopular, this treaty likely saved the remnants of Rome’s eastern forces from annihilation.

Jovian was the last emperor connected to the Constantinian dynasty, and he quickly worked to restore Christianity’s favored status after Julian’s attempts to revive paganism. His reign, however, was extremely short; he died unexpectedly in early 364 AD, possibly due to carbon monoxide poisoning in his tent.

Bronze AE coins of Jovian typically feature his armored, diademed bust on the obverse, while reverses emphasize military strength, imperial virtue, and divine favor — key themes in a time when Rome’s future hung in the balance.

Certified by NGC, this AE coin offers collectors a glimpse into a fleeting but critical moment in Roman history, where survival and political transition took center stage.