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Victory Advancing Left

The figure of Victory advancing left was a very popular motif seen on Roman coinage. Two major late Roman types bear an image of Victory advancing left. The first and earlier of the two types shows her holding a wreath in her left hand and carrying a branch in her right. These bore the legend SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE and were struck during the reigns of Valentinian I, Valens, and Gratian.

The small AE4 coins with a victory advancing left on the reverse were struck during the reigns of Valentinian II, Theodosius I, Honorius, and Arcadius. Ranging in size from tiny cits of metal less than 13mm to a little more than 15mm, these late Fourth Century and early Fifth Century coins depicted Victory dragging a captive and often had either a cross or a P - headed cross in the left field. The legend, SALUS REIPVBLICAE, means "Health of the Republic" Both this and the legend found on coins described in the first paragraph of this article were quite ironic sentiments for the Roman Empire of this period to be displaying on its coins.

Virtual Galleries
Victory Advancing Left Types of Gratian and Valentinian II
Victory Advancing Left Types of Theodosius I
Victory Advancing Left Types of Arcadius


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Identifying Common Fourth Century Roman Bronze Coins
Reading the Emperor's Name and Titles
A Picture Gallery of Fourth Century Reverse Types
Camp Gate
Altar Inscribed VOTIS XX
Two Soldiers Standing With Two Standards
Two Soldiers Holding One Standard
Wreath With Legend Inside
Soldier Spearing a Fallen Horseman
VRBS ROMA Commemorative - Mother Wolf Suckling Twins Romulus and Remus
CONSTANTINOPOLIS Commemorative - Victory Standing on Prow of Ship
Two Victories Each Holding a Small Wreath
Two Victories Each Holding a Large Wreath on Centenionals of Decentius
Emperor Holding Labarum or Standard and Dragging Captive
Emperor Raising Kneeling Captive
Victory Advancing Left
A Key to Fourth Century Inscriptions
Some Scarcer Late Fourth Century and early Fifth Century Types

All New! More image galleries of late Roman bronze types.

Camp Gate
Altar with Votis, Victories with Wreath
FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier Spearing Fallen Horseman
More FEL TEMP, including Barbarian and Hut tupes
Victory Advancing Left Holding Wreath
Emperor Holding Labarum and Dragging Captive