From ancient to modern
Julian II Copies

Julian II was the last Roman emperor to embrace paganism, though he failed in his three-year attempt as emperor to revive the worship of the old gods. The bull on his largest bronze coins was a proclamation of paganism. In Michael F. Hendy's 2008 book Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy C. 300-1450, he contended that these coins were the main element of Julian's efforts.
Throughout history, in Rome as well in other culture, the bull has represented strength, masculinity, procreative power, and aggression. The bull on these coins is most commonly referred to as the Apis, a bull deity first worshipped in Egypt about two thousand years earlier. But it could also be Taurus, the sacred bull that survives in the constellation of the same name.
What follows are one authentic official Julian II bull bronze coin issued c. 360-363 AD plus copies of this coin that span the ages.

Julian II official ancient bronze coin (29mm, 7.5g), Nicomedia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), c. 360-363 AD, Sear 4072, RIC VIII 121, LRBC 2319. Obverse: Bust of Julian facing right. Reverse: Bull, a symbol of paganism, two stars (Gemini or Taurus), "SECVRITAS REIPVB" or "Security of the state."

Julian II bronze ancient imitative (24mm, 8.2g). Most likely this was an ancient imitative issued by a tribal people such as the Gauls or the Franks, or it could have been an acient counterfeit issued within the Roman Empire. The eyes are overlarge, and the beard, mouth, diadem, bull, and inscriptions are rendered coarsely. The piece is in the correct weight range, but it's smaller and thicker than official Julian IIs. It's not clear what mint this imitative copies.

Julian II bronze old replica (28mm, 9.0g). This electrotype replica was issued in 1893 by Metallwaren-Fabrik Wilhelm Mayer of Stuttgart, Germany, a metal works company that along with coin replicas also produced medals, plaques, pins, and similar works. There's an M-within-a-circle countermark in the obverse left field. It copies a coin from Antioch, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), RIC VIII Antioch 216, LRBC 2640.

Julian II bronze modern forgery (26mm, 8.4g). This is a "Bulgarian School" forgery, said to be made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. It's a deceptive forgery, just a bit small, with convincing surfaces, edges, and patina. The styling is off only slightly, with Julian's face being too flat and his nose too shallow and the bull's head not facing heavenward. It was part of a small group of inexpensive coins that were all false. It copies a coin from Thessalonica, Greece, RIC Thessalonica 225, LRBC 1696. More on the Lipanoff Studio.

Julian II bronze modern forgery (27mm, 8.9g). This is another "Bulgarian School" forgery. It was sold on eBay Australia by a seller in Bulgaria as an authentic coin, but he made the auction private, disclaimed knowledge of the coin's authenticity, and specified no returns. When questioned through email, he admitted it was a copy. The piece sold for only EUR 9,99, a fair price to be able to study and document the deception and help others avoid getting cheated. It appears pressed from original dies from one of Bulgaria's infamous forgery workshops, with the upturned mustache and overlong shoulder flap of the cuirass giving the piece away. It copies a coin from Constantinople, LRBC 2057.

Julian II bronze modern forgery (size and weight unknown). This forgery was put up for auction as an authentic coin by a major international auction house that sells many ancient coins but doesn't specialize in them. The size and weight weren't provided in the auction description, but the coin was attributed to to Antioch., RIC Vol. VIII, Pl. 28:216. Everything about the piece is uncongruous -- the hair, diadem, beard, drapery, bull, letterforms, and beading. When contacted, the auction house withdrew the piece. If you have such a copy, please let me know. .

Julian II bronze Lipanoff forgery. Here's another "Bulgarian School" forgery made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. I haven't examined this piece in person either. If you have such a copy, please let me know.

Constantinian Bronzes

Constantine Sols

Constantine VLPP Imitatives

Julian II Copies

Other glomworthy coins:

Oldest Coins

Athenian Owls

Alexander the Great Coins

Medusa Coins

Thracian Tetradrachms

House of Constantine

Draped Bust Coins

Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles

Other coin sites:
Coin Collecting: Consumer Protection Guide
Glomming: Coin Connoisseurship
Bogos: Counterfeit Coins
Pre-coins

Note: All of the coins illustrated on these pages that are in my possession are stored off site.

	Julian II was the last Roman emperor to embrace paganism, though he failed in his three-year attempt as emperor to revive the worship of the old gods. The bull on his largest bronze coins was a proclamation of paganism. In Michael F. Hendy's 2008 book Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy C. 300-1450, he contended that these coins were the main element of Julian's efforts. Throughout history, in Rome as well in other culture, the bull has represented strength, masculinity, procreative power, and aggression. The bull on these coins is most commonly referred to as the Apis, a bull deity first worshipped in Egypt about two thousand years earlier. But it could also be Taurus, the sacred bull that survives in the constellation of the same name. What follows are one authentic official Julian II bull bronze coin issued c. 360-363 AD plus copies of this coin that span the ages.


	Julian II official ancient bronze coin (29mm, 7.5g), Nicomedia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), c. 360-363 AD, Sear 4072, RIC VIII 121, LRBC 2319. Obverse: Bust of Julian facing right. Reverse: Bull, a symbol of paganism, two stars (Gemini or Taurus), "SECVRITAS REIPVB" or "Security of the state."


	Julian II bronze ancient imitative (24mm, 8.2g). Most likely this was an ancient imitative issued by a tribal people such as the Gauls or the Franks, or it could have been an acient counterfeit issued within the Roman Empire. The eyes are overlarge, and the beard, mouth, diadem, bull, and inscriptions are rendered coarsely. The piece is in the correct weight range, but it's smaller and thicker than official Julian IIs. It's not clear what mint this imitative copies.


	Julian II bronze old replica (28mm, 9.0g). This electrotype replica was issued in 1893 by Metallwaren-Fabrik Wilhelm Mayer of Stuttgart, Germany, a metal works company that along with coin replicas also produced medals, plaques, pins, and similar works. There's an M-within-a-circle countermark in the obverse left field. It copies a coin from Antioch, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), RIC VIII Antioch 216, LRBC 2640.


	Julian II bronze modern forgery (26mm, 8.4g). This is a "Bulgarian School" forgery, said to be made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. It's a deceptive forgery, just a bit small, with convincing surfaces, edges, and patina. The styling is off only slightly, with Julian's face being too flat and his nose too shallow and the bull's head not facing heavenward. It was part of a small group of inexpensive coins that were all false. It copies a coin from Thessalonica, Greece, RIC Thessalonica 225, LRBC 1696. More on the Lipanoff Studio.


	Julian II bronze modern forgery (27mm, 8.9g). This is another "Bulgarian School" forgery. It was sold on eBay Australia by a seller in Bulgaria as an authentic coin, but he made the auction private, disclaimed knowledge of the coin's authenticity, and specified no returns. When questioned through email, he admitted it was a copy. The piece sold for only EUR 9,99, a fair price to be able to study and document the deception and help others avoid getting cheated. It appears pressed from original dies from one of Bulgaria's infamous forgery workshops, with the upturned mustache and overlong shoulder flap of the cuirass giving the piece away. It copies a coin from Constantinople, LRBC 2057.


	Julian II bronze modern forgery (size and weight unknown). This forgery was put up for auction as an authentic coin by a major international auction house that sells many ancient coins but doesn't specialize in them. The size and weight weren't provided in the auction description, but the coin was attributed to to Antioch., RIC Vol. VIII, Pl. 28:216. Everything about the piece is uncongruous -- the hair, diadem, beard, drapery, bull, letterforms, and beading. When contacted, the auction house withdrew the piece. If you have such a copy, please let me know. .


	Julian II bronze Lipanoff forgery. Here's another "Bulgarian School" forgery made by the Lipanoff Studio of Bulgaria. I haven't examined this piece in person either. If you have such a copy, please let me know.

From ancient to modern Julian II Copies

From ancient to modern
Julian II Copies