Austria 20 Euro silver coin 2012 Brigantium Series: Rome on the Danube
Built as it was in the twilight years of the Roman Empire, the port of Brigantium is a fitting subject with which to conclude historic Rome on the Danube series. Rome’s naval prowess may be a somewhat overlooked cog in the empire’s military machine, but this handsome 20 euro silver piece illustrates it in typically splendid fashion.
While the Roman camp of Brigantium, on the eastern shore of Lake Constance, had been a municipality since AD 50, it was not until the second half of the fourth century that the port was constructed by Emperor Valentinian I, who features on the coin’s obverse. Born in Croatia in AD 321 and emperor for just over a decade until his death in AD 375, Valentinian was the last Roman emperor to engage in military campaigns across the Rhine and Danube rivers. In order to provide protection to those natural borders it is believed that he built the harbour at Brigantium (present-day Bregenz) and equipped it with navis lusoria, the fast and streamlined troop carrying vessels typical of the late Roman Empire, which feature on the coin’s reverse. Only discovered and excavated some 40 years ago, the ancient harbour can be seen in reconstruction in the background.
quality: proof
collection: Rome on the Danube
face value: 20 Euro
date of issue: 13.06.2012
coin design: Mag. Helmut Andexlinger / Herbert Wähner
diameter: 34.00 mm
alloy: Silver Ag 900
fine weight: 18.00 g
total weight: 20.00 g
During his reign, Valentinian fought successfully against the Alamanni, Quadi, and Sarmatians. Most notable was his victory over the Alamanni in 367 at the Battle of Solicinium. His brilliant general Count Theodosius defeated a revolt in Africa and the Great Conspiracy, a coordinated assault on Roman Britain by Picts, Scots, and Saxons. Valentinian was also the last emperor to conduct campaigns across both the Rhine and Danube rivers. Valentinian rebuilt and improved the fortifications along the frontiers, even building fortresses in enemy territory.
Due to the successful nature of his reign and almost immediate decline of the empire after his death, he is often considered the "last great western emperor". He founded the Valentinian Dynasty, with his sons Gratian and Valentinian II succeeding him in the western half of the empire.