Although this is a very common Emperor for AV Solidi, I finally landed this one from Heritage Signature auction... AV Solidus ND Thessalonika Mint struck circa 424-30AD 22mm. 4.45g. DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG Pearl diademed/ helmeted cuirassed bust facing slightly left/ holding spear in right hand/ slung over shoulder/ shied decorated with horseman motif GLOR ORIV-S TERRAR Emperor standing facing/ labarum in right hand/ with "X" on banner/ globus cruciger in left/ star in left field/ TESOB. in exergue RIC X 315 Depeyrot 51/1 variant
John, Your beautiful solidus is from a rare mint with a rare reverse type, & the price of $1,080.00 was an absolute steal ! Seeing your coin triggered an old memory I have to share with CT members. The coin pictured below I bought from a FL dealer many years ago in a ICG slab. It was graded simply "MS 65". This coin is the most common of all the gold coins struck in the reign of Theodosius II, & despite that I paid $750.00 for the coin even with the doubling on the reverse . Shortly after I bought the coin I discovered the FL dealer got the coin at auction for $450.00 . Several years later another coin similar type appeared at a Harlan J. Berk, bid or buy sale, & his example was perfectly struck without the doubling on the reverse side, see photos below. I ended up with the Berk example & decided to get rid of the ICG example. So I sent the coin to Heritage Auctions with the instructions of sending the coin to NGC for re-slabbing & for them to put it in their Jan. 7, 2018 auction. The coin sold for a shocking $3,840.00 !
Quite a nice coin @panzerman - and you got a rare one for a good price. Really like the reverse type, portrait is well done as well.
Another nice one - I like to live vicariously through your beautiful gold acquisitions. Thanks for sharing!
I'm in no position to say which is more common but the later part of Theodosius' reign saw Rome pay 2,100 Roman pounds (ca. 687 kg) of gold in tribute to the Huns. I suspect it was in coin form. Mine is worn and ex jewelry but cost very little over melt when gold was cheap 20 years ago.
Really striking solidi! Thought I'd share mine as well. I'm assuming it isn't particularly rare compared to the previous examples as the price wasn't too steep, but I really enjoy the reverse. Theodosius II (408-450 AD) RIC X 202 Mint: Constantinople
A Theo II, a Zeno and a Maurice Tiberius all in a row.... hmm, going on a limb that you're after the full Byzantine lineup amiright?! Me too