How to Identify the Miliarense of Valentinian I

Begin with the metal and physical scale. A miliarensis is silver, and it should read as a substantial silver coin, broader and heavier than the thin siliqua yet smaller than a gold solidus. If the coin is bronze, or is a small, wispy silver flan, it is a different late-Roman denomination. Confirming the denomination is the first step before attributing the emperor or mint.

Examine the obverse portrait and legend. This type shows a right-facing imperial bust wearing a pearl diadem, the beaded band across the brow used by 4th-century emperors rather than the laurel wreaths or radiate crowns of earlier Roman coinage. The surrounding Latin legend is the key to attribution: coins of Valentinian I name him, typically opening with a form of DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG. Read it carefully, because the portrait style alone closely resembles that of his brother Valens and his son Gratian.

Turn to the reverse and the exergue. The reverse figure here is a standing armed personage holding a spear and shield, a standard late-Roman military motif, with its own legend around it. The mint mark in the exergue, the small letters below the ground line, ties the coin to a specific mint such as those active in Valentinian's reign; do not infer the mint from the design alone, since the same reverse types were struck at multiple mints. Note the legend and the exergual letters together to place the coin.

Be cautious about look-alikes and authenticity. The closest confusions are the very similar silver of Valens and Gratian, resolved only by reading the obverse legend. Beyond that, late Roman silver has been widely copied and cast, so watch for casting bubbles, seams, tooling, incorrect weight, or soft mushy detail. Because this is a higher-value silver type, it is prudent to weigh and measure the coin against published standards and to seek confirmation from a specialist in Roman coins or a reputable dealer before relying on any attribution.