Valentinian I                   364 - 375

Valentinian became emperor after Jovian's death. He was a capable general and performed admirably on behalf of the empire given the advanced state of decay it was currently under. To start things off he named his brother Valens co-emperor and was handed over the east half of the empire. A couple of years later he named his young son Gratian co-ruler of the West as well in case anything happened while he was campaigning against the ever-present barbarians. That something happened in 375 when he suffered a stroke after becoming angry at a group of barbarian peacemakers (presumably for offering unfavorable terms).

Roman Imperial Valentinian I AE 1 25 Feb 364-17 Nov 375 A.D. 28.3 mm. 8.13 g. Nicomedia, Officina 1 Obv. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev. RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE Valentinian standing left, head right, holding labarum (Chi-Rho Christogram) in right and Victory on globe in left, SMNA in exergue ex Aiello Collection RIC 7a, Van Meter 39, R2