310, Lot: 425. Estimate $100. Sold for $70. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gratian. AD 367-383. Æ (18mm, 2.46 g, 6h). Arelate (as Constantia) mint, 3rd officina. Struck AD 367-375. D N GRATIANVS AVGG AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GLORIA [N]O–VI SAECVLVM, emperor standing facing, head left, holding labarum and shield; OF–III//CON. RIC IX 15 (mintmark XIIIc). VF, green patina. Rare and unusual.

As an accession issue, this coin touts the “glory of the new age” that the new emperor and heir apparent is to bring. The obverse legend echoes Gratian’s role as junior emperor, differentiating between the senior emperors Valentinian I and Valens (AVGG) and Gratian (AVG) in an unorthodox manner only employed at Arelate and Lugdunum.

Interestingly, on the reverse we find the workshop specifically referred to as OF(ficina) III.