Valentinian II Roman AE3 (AD 375-392) NGC

Own a certified Roman bronze AE3 of Valentinian II (AD 375–392), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin represents the brief and tragic life of an emperor who never truly wielded the power of the throne.

The son of Valentinian I, Valentinian II was declared emperor at the age of just four, a political move orchestrated to secure dynastic stability. Throughout his life, real control of the Western Empire lay with others: his mother, Empress Justina, ruled Italy as regent, while the usurper Magnus Maximus dominated much of Gaul and Britain.

Even as a young adult, Valentinian II struggled to assert independence. His rule was overshadowed by powerful generals, notably the Frankish commander Arbogast. In 392 AD, under murky and suspicious circumstances, Valentinian II was found dead — most likely strangled on Arbogast’s orders.

Valentinian’s religious journey was also significant. Initially raised under the influence of Arian Christianity by his mother, he later adopted Nicene Christianity after her death. His untimely death before baptism prompted the influential Bishop Ambrose of Milan to promote the concept of "baptism of desire" during his funeral oration, a theological idea that would resonate for centuries.

Bronze AE3 coins of Valentinian II often feature his youthful, diademed bust on the obverse and reverses celebrating imperial victories or divine favor, despite the turbulent reality of his reign.

Certified by NGC, this coin offers collectors a poignant piece of late Roman history, reflecting the fragility of imperial power during the empire’s slow decline.