My Roma win was this immaculate solidus of Arcadius. I find the late Roman bronze coinage dreary, so I upgrade to gold where i can. I think this is pretty good for an Arcadius: Arcadius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 397-402. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield with horseman motif / CONCORDIA AVGG H, Constantinopolis, helmeted, seated facing, head right, placing right foot on prow and holding Victory on globe and spear; CONOB in exergue. RIC 7; Depeyrot 55/1. 4.47g, 20mm, 6h. My new solidus complements the one i already have of his co-emperor Theodosius II: So all i need now is a solidus of the third co-emperor Honorius to complete my set. Fortunately solidi of this era are relatively cheap - unlike those ultra-rare rulers that i have yet to add (Jotapian, Sebastianus, Alexander of Carthage, Nepotian etc). I guess this is an opportunity for everyone to show their solidi.....
I love those facing portraits. This one is a beauty. It probably ended up in a Gothic payoff wagon train.
The only Solidi I have dates back to the year 1400 and happens to be from Venice. That was the time of ruling doge Michele Steno, being blessed by Saint Marc. The coin weighs 3.53 g.
What a splendid Arcadius! Dear Greg, Yours is a very beautiful Arcadius; congratulations! Below is one of my favorite solidi. Constantius II, Antioch, 337-347. 4.46 gr. RIC 7. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, ca. 1959 (I must look up the date!)
I really like that coin with the weight standard marked in field. It was 1/72 pound (LXXII) just like my 4.7g (close counts in al marco issues) AE2 of Gallus.
Dear Doug, I love your Gallus with the 1/72 weight standard! It almost looks like the about-to-be speared falling horseman is speaking it out. Perhaps it is code for: "please do not spear me!"
