I was going through my bin of ancient junk looking to identify something on my free time earlier today. I saw this one and I plugged in the obverse inscription on Numismatics.org and found nothing. I then proceeded to look all over eBay, heritage, and other auction websites to see if I could find my coin. I finally found it on VC Coins. Its an Arcadius AE2 from the early 400s! It's also extremely scarce with only a few hundred surviving examples. In this condition (VF<EF) it will sell for around $150. But I'm sure it can reach over $200. The lesson: look through your junk ancient coins.
AE2 is shorthand for a late Roman bronze measuring 21-25 mm. 17 and under is AE4. Here are more of them on Vcoins.
Fun little coin. But not worth more than a buck or 2 led alone$150. And that is IF you can find someone looking for one, that is. Sorry. Here's my little scraper I got in a group lot to clean for around fifty cents.
A few hundred surviving examples doesn't mean scarce, or maybe I missed something Here's my 40 bucks example for comparison : Arcadius, AE4 - Heraclea mint, 1st officina, c. AD 383 DN ARCADIVS PF AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right VOT / V within wreath, SMHA at exergue 1.27g, 14mm, 12h Ref : RIC IX # 18b, LRBC II # 1964 Q
Arcadius RI Arcadius AE2 383-408 CE Emp stdg Standard and Globe With his brother, Honorius... RI Honorius 393-343 AE3 15mm Arcadius and Honorius Stdg
I have still to find a decent Honorius AE2. I've been looking for years (well not looking that much, but looking). I would like to pair one with that Arcadius Arcadius, AE 2 - Alexandria mint, 3rd officina D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, Diademed bust of Arcadius right VIRTS EXERCITI (sic !), Arcadius, standing right, a captive at right foot, holding globe and standard. ALE gamma at exergue 6.28 gr Ref : RIC # 18, RC #4230, LRBC #2896 var Q
I think you may have misunderstood his post. He's looking for a Honorius AE2, not Arcadius and your Arcadius is not an AE2 but a smaller AE4.
This little image from my denominations page might help. Note the US cent under the AE3 for scale. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/denom.html I just realized that the AE2 sample was a Honorius so here are both sides and an AE2 friend for support.
I have one: Bronze half centenionalis, RIC IX Cyzicus 20(d), 1.132g, 13.4mm, 4th officina, Cyzicus mint, 383 A.D.; obverse D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VOT / V in two lines within wreath, SMKD in exergue.
Here's my favorite Arcadius: (Bronze) AE III Cyzikus mint, A.D. 392-395 Obv: D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM - Emperor on horseback, riding right, right hand raised SMKΓ in exergue RIC 29(b) 17mm, 2.0g
I've got lots of Arcadius AE4s. But I've got an interesting mule with Aelia Flaccilla obverse (mother of Arcadius and Honorius; RIC IX Antioch 64) and Arcadius VOT reverse (RIC IX Antioch 65C: Subtype 1)... Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I) Cf: Numismatik Naumann, Auction 74, lot 524 (2/3/2019)