Vetranio - Roman Emperor 350
A.D. Biography & Rare Certified Ancient Coins Available for Sale
Buy Coins Vetranio - Roman Emperor
He was an experienced soldier and officer when he was asked by
Constantina, the sister of Roman Emperor Constantius II, to proclaim
himself Caesar (March 1, 350). Her brother Constans had been killed by
Magnentius earlier that year and she probably thought Vetranio could
protect her family and herself against the usurper. Vetranio accepted
and coins were minted in his name, showing the title of Augustus (full
emperor), rather than Caesar. Constantius first seemed to accept the new
Emperor and sent him money to raise an army, as well as his regalia.
 
Example of Authentic Ancient
Coin of:
Vetranio - Roman Emperor: 350 A.D.
Bronze Centenionalis Thessalonica Mint: 350 A.D.
Reference: RIC 132; LRBC 1658
D N VETRANIO P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right.
CONCORDIA MILITVM A-B, Vetranio standing facing, holding standard with
chi-rho in either hand, star above, dot TSΔ
dot in exergue.
The Chi Rho is one of the earliest
christograms used by Christians. It is
formed by superimposing the first two letters in the Greek spelling of
the word
Christ (
Greek : "Χριστός" ), chi = ch and rho =
r, in such a way to produce the
monogram. The Chi-Rho symbol was also
used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly
valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing
for chrēston, meaning "good."
Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion
of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. There is early
evidence of the Chi Rho symbol on Christian Rings of the third century.
The labarum (Greek:
λάβαρον) was a
vexillum (military standard) that
displayed the "Chi-Rho"
symbol, formed from the first two
Greek letters of the word "Christ"
(Greek:
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) Chi (χ)
and Rho (ρ).
It was first used by the
Roman emperor
Constantine I. Since the vexillum
consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was
ideally suited to symbolize
crucifixion. The Chi-Rho symbol was
also used by Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly
valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing
for chrēston, meaning "good."
Vetranio (d. c. 360), born in the province of
Moesia in a part of the region located
in modern
Bulgaria, is sometimes but apparently
incorrectly referred to as Vetriano. He was an experienced
soldier and officer when he was asked by
Constantina, the sister of
Roman Emperor
Constantius II, to proclaim himself
Caesar (March 1, 350). Her brother
Constans had been killed by
Magnentius earlier that year and she
probably thought Vetranio could protect her family and herself against
the usurper. Vetranio accepted and coins were minted in his name,
showing the title of
Augustus (full emperor), rather than
Caesar. Constantius first seemed to accept the new Emperor and sent him
money to raise an army, as well as his regalia.
Constantius, who was on a campaign against the
Persians when Magnentius came to power,
returned to the west and met with Vetranio. Vetranio subsequently
abdicated on December 25, 350. He was allowed to live the remainder of
his years as a private citizen on a state pension.
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