He was the son of Emperor Valentinian I by Marina Severa, and was born at Sirmium. He ruled alongside his father from 367 to 375, alongside his brother Valentinian II from 375 to 379, and finally alongside Theodosius I from 379 to 383, as Augustus in the west.
By using foreign bodyguards, and appearing in public in the dress of a Scythian warrior, he aroused the contempt and resentment of his Roman troops. A Roman general named Magnus Maximus took advantage of this feeling to invade Gaul with a large army. Gratian was deserted by his troops, and fled from Paris to Lyon. The governor of Lyon delivered Gratian to one of the rebel generals, Andragathius, and he was assassinated on 25 August 383.
Reverse: VOT XX MVLT XXX, in four lines within wreath
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 1.3 g
Reverse: Roma seated facing on throne, looking left, holding Victory on globe and spear, left leg bare "VIRTVS ROMANORVM"
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 1.5 g
Reverse: Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; GLORIA RO_MANORVM / M _ * above P / ΔSISC
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.46 g
Reverse: Gratian standing front, head left, holding Victory on globe and raising kneeling female on left; REPARATIO__REIPVB / PCON
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.6 g
Reverse: [G]LORIA RO-MANORVM, Emperor in military dress, walking right, head left, holding labarum, dragging captive behind him. Left field: S over dot, right field: C over hooked A (SYM 4)
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.8 g
Reverse: RBS ROMA, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1 g
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Reverse: VRBS ROMA, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and resting on reverse spear
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 1.93 g
Reverse: Roma seated on throne facing, head left, holding globe and spear; VRBS RO_MANORVM / Φ / ANTA
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.4 g