EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE

Valens - Roman Emperor
364-378 A.D.

Bronze AE3 Nummus

Obverse:  Diademed, draped and
cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: Emperor walking right, head left, grasping bound captive at the top of the head with right hand and holding labarum with left hand.
Mintmark in exergue.

The labarum was a vexillum (military standard) that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, a christogram 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 the crucifixion of Christ.

Ancient sources draw an unambiguous distinction between the two terms "labarum" and "Chi-Rho", even though later usage sometimes regards the two as synonyms. The name labarum was applied both to the original standard used by Constantine the Great and to the many standards produced in imitation of it in the Late Antique world, and subsequently.

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by some Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = KRistos = Christ in such a way to produce the monogram. Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho invokes the authority of Jesus, as well as symbolising his status as the Christ.

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." Some coins of Ptolemy III Euergetes (r. 246-222 BC) were marked with a Chi-Rho.

The Chi-Rho symbol was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I (r. 306-337) as part of a military standard (vexillum), Constantine's standard was known as the Labarum.

Valens - Roman Emperor: 364-378 A.D.

Ruling in the West: Valentinian I (364-375), Gratian (367-383), and Valentinian
II (375-392)
| Brother of Valentinian I | Uncle of Gratian, Valentinian II and Galla (wife of
Theodosius I) |

Flavius Julius Valens (Latin: FLAVIUS IVLIVS VALENS AVGVSTVS; 328 - 9 August
378) was Roman Emperor (364-378), after he was given the Eastern part of the
empire by his brother Valentinian I. Valens, sometimes known as the Last True
Roman, was defeated and killed in the Battle of Adrianople, which marked the
beginning of the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

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