"When in Rome": Ancient Roman Coin Necklace (Jovian/Wreath)

*Note: These coins are identified to the best of my ability using any letters/symbols that are visibly available, and searching against a numismatic database. Please note that while I try incredibly hard to correctly identify them, I am just a hobbyist -- not an expert. Each coin is hand cleaned by me in a process that takes months of soaking, toothpicking, and toothbrushing. Colorization is natural patina from old age that is valued by coin collectors, and I have protected it with Renaissance wax. Because these coins are around 2000 years old and spend hundreds of years buried in the ground, there will be imperfections in surface, patina, and shape. My coins mostly come from the Balkans, and are discovered in buried hoards by farmers tilling soil. 

Materials in Bezel/Bail/Chain: Sterling Silver

Chain and Closure: 16", dainty, lobster claw closure with small jump ring

Specific Coin Identification: RIC VIII Arelate 333

Obverse: "D N IOVIA-NVS P F AVG"

Reverse: "VOT/V/MVLT/X" withing wreath

Emperor in Power: Jovian

Emperor Bust on Coin: Jovian

Deity/Image on Back: Wreath

Mint Date: 363-364 CE. This coin is ~1,658 years old. 

Mint Location: Arelate

Denomination: AE3 (Bronze)

Story time!:

Jovian ruled from 363-364. That's right -- he's an EIGHT MONTH emperor. 

Jovian was a Christian(ish). At this time in the Roman Empire, though, there was hella religious termoil. The pagans and the Jews were unhappy with Christianity, and the Christians couldn't even agree about what Christianity WAS. Christianity wasn't the official religion yet (that would come in about 15 years), so people were like, "what are we DOING?!"

So here comes Jovian in 363, in his early thirties, and newly emperor. Immediately, he gets in some drama with the Christian bishops. Some were like, "Hey, Christ and God are different and not co-eternal," and then others were like, "Nah man, they're the same thing. Sign the Nicene Creed and let's define a strict definition of Christianity." Jovian said to all of them (likely not verbatim): "Eh, this probably isn't a huge deal, so instead of taking a side, I'll just... revoke the rest of the persecutions against Christians and ban pagan magic and divination. But pagan temples are still okay. Ya know, take a little from the pagans and give a little to all the different Christian sects."

So now EVERYONE is pissed off because nobody is getting exactly what they want. So, when Jovian traveled to Antioch a month later in October 363, he was met with an angry mob. Instead of actually dealing with that drama, Jovian is like, "Well f*ck you guys 🖕🖕🖕" and burned down their library. 

It's going great, friends.

THEN in December of 363, he names his INFANT son, instead of his brothers, as consul. 

Surprisingly, in February 364, he was found *mysteriously* dead in his tent. Nobody even bothered to investigate his death. 

To top of this *awesome* rule, Jovian's brothers blinded his infant son so he couldn't be a threat in the future. 

Yay Ancient Rome!