This might be common knowledge to you folks but it was something I just learned today. You know Honoria, the sister of Valentinian III who is portrayed on a handful of very rare and expensive late Roman gold coins such as this? (Photo courtesy Wildwinds) Well, it turns out that "in the spring of 450, Honoria, the ambitious sister of Valentian III, emperor of Western Rome, sent Attila a ring and asked him to help her get out of the impending marriage to a Roman aristocrat her brother was forcing on her. Attila, who already had several wives (the exact number is unknown), took Honoria’s overture as a proposal. He claimed her as his newest bride, and half the Western Empire as her dowry. Honoria claimed to have intended no such thing, but her brother, furious at his sister’s scheming, was ready to send her across the Danube to placate Attila. He eventually relented, allowing her to marry the boring Roman aristocrat after all. Attila wouldn’t give up so easily, however, and would wage his next two military campaigns in Honoria’s name." See: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-things-you-might-not-know-about-attila-the-hun
Wow, congrats on that fantastic OP-gem I totally agree with Mat => I'd love to add her to my chick-coin collection
Its nowhere near as pretty as the coin above, but I do happen to have an AE4 of Honoria's mother, Galla Placidia. Galla Placidia, Western Roman Empire AE nummus Obv: D N GALLA PLA-CIDIA P F AVG, female, pearl-diademed bust right, wearing necklace and earrings Rev: SALVS REI-PVBLICE around cross, T in left field Mint: Rome Mintmark: RM Date: 425-437 AD Ref: RIC X 2111
Haha, that story is awesome. Hey, brother mine.... I have some bad news..... I may have accidentally given the invading Huns our empire.... Sorry.
