He was given the eastern half of the empire by his brother Valentinian I after the latter's accession to the throne.
He was a careful administrator, but very suspicious of plots and without any military merit whatsoever.
In 378, Valens fought the combined forces of the Visigoths at Adrianople. The battle was a complete disaster; more than two-thirds of the Roman army was annihilated - and Valens dead.
He was succeeded by an inexperienced Gratian, only 19 years old.
Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Valens in military attire advancing right, head left, dragging captive by the hair with right hand and holding labarum in left
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.4 g
Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Valens in military attire advancing right, head left, dragging captive by the hair with right hand and holding labarum in left
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.2 g
Reverse: SECVRITAS REIPUBLICAE, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm, * F in left field, M in right
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.3 g
Reverse: SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm branch
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 0 g
Reverse: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm. Star in left field.
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.02 g
10
Reverse: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm. No fieldmarks.
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 2.6 g
15
Reverse: within wreath "VOT X MVL XX"
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 1.2 g
Reverse: GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, Roma and Constantinople facing each other, each holding a scepter and together holding a shield inscribed VOT V MVLT X; SMNI in exergue
Die Orientation: 5 H
Weight: 4.06 g
Reverse: Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; GLORIA RO_MANORVM / OF _ II / CONST
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.1 g
Reverse: Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; GLORIA RO_MANORVM / ·BSISC
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.87 g
Reverse: Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; SECVRITAS__REIPVBLICAE / palm branch ASISC
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.46 g
Reverse: Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; SECVRITAS__REIPVBLICAE / TESΔ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.7 g
Reverse: Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; SECVRITAS__REIPVBLICAE / * above A / ·ASISC
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.52 g
Reverse: Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; SECVRITAS__REIPVBLICAE / A _ wreath / TES
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.6 g
Reverse: Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; GLORIA RO_MANORVM / * _ * above B / TES
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.62 g
Reverse: Victory holding wreath and palm branch; SECVRITAS__REIPVBLICAE / ANT?
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.9 g
Reverse: Victory holding wreath and palm branch; SECVRITAS__REIPVBLICAE / ANTΔ
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.85 g
Reverse: Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; GLORIA RO_MANORVM / wreath _ • over A / TES
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.6 g
Reverse: VOT V MVLT X in wreath
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.7 g
Reverse: Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and scepter; TRPS•
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 2.15 g
Iridescent toning, small obverse lamintion missing. Good VF.
Reverse: Valens advancing right, dragging captive and holding labarum; GLORIA RO_MANORVM / •SMAQP
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 2.2 g