Procopius





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    PROCOPIVS; born A.D. 334, in Cilicia, related to Julian II "the Apostate", who honoured him with various dignities; he was charged by Jovian to conduct the dead body of that emperor to Tarsus, for interment. But as the rumour prevailed that Julian had made choice of him as his successor to the throne, Procopius retired first into Chersonesus Taurica, afterwards to Chalcedon; at length, having proceeded to Constantinople, he took advantage of the known unpopularity of Valens to assume the title of Augustus in that city, A.D. 365. But although at first successful in this assumption, his pride, extortion, and cruelty plunged him into ruin, by rendering his own government insupportable. Valens, having been joined by the legions of the east, who had remained faithful to his cause, encountered Procopius at Nacolia, in Phrygia, vanquished him in a hard fought battle, and caused him to be put to death in A.D. 366, in his 32nd year, and after he had borne the vainly ambitious title of Augustus for the space of eight months.
    The coins of Procopius are extremely rare in gold, silver, and middle brass, and almost equally so in third brass. On these he is styled D. N. PROCOPIVS P. F. AVG. The example here given is in brass, from the cabinet of Mr. Roach Smith.


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