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Sirmium RIC 105 of Julian II

Julian II AE2. D N FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REIPVB, Apis Bull standing rtight, two stars above, ASIRM(wreath) in ex.

Lot No.2108. VF with a nice patina.

$ 145.

Julian II (Caesar 335-360 AD, Augustus 360-363 AD) is known as both "The Apostate" and "The Philosopher". He was a well educated man of considerable literary achievement, but his sympathy for the old Pagan religion earned him the derision of contemporary and later church authorities. Raised in the Christian house of his Uncle, Constantine the Great, he witnessed his cousins murder all of their male relatives, with the exception of himself and Constantius Gallus, Julian's brother. Constantius II made Gallus his heir in 351, but had him executed in 354 when his misrule caused trouble in Syria. Constantius imprisoned Julian at this point, but freed him soon after, since Julian was the only reasonable heir left by 355. Julian was given the western provinces to govern and proved to be an able and popular military leader. In 360, his troops, ordered by Constantius to the east for a Persian expedition, rebelled, proclaiming Julian as Emperor. Constantius fell ill and died before a war could be fought, and named Julian his successor on his deathbed. Julian was killed in battle against the Persians on June 26th, 363 AD. Some say it was a Christian, rather than a Persian, spear which struck the fatal blow.