As I rummaged through a seldom-visited box of coins at the bank the other day I ran across two old friends with whom I had not spent time in ages. They are both fifth-century solidi from the northern Italian mint of Ravenna, and although they appeared about a generation apart, they feature similar, yet complementing, reverse types. Theodosius II. Ravenna, after 408. Solidus 4.38 gr. 21 mm. hr. 1. RIC X, 1311, p. 331. Ex S. Kaplan, 5 Feb. 1956. The coin above was issued by the western emperor Honorius (AD 393 to 423) in the name of his junior eastern colleague, Theodosius II (AD 402-450). The obverse bears a helmeted portrait of the young Theodosius, identified by the inscription DN THEODO – SIVS PF AVG. The crested helmet the young emperor wears (he would have been a child at the time of issue) is decorated with 3 stars. The reverse, bearing the inscription VICTORI – A AVGGG, depicts the emperor crowned by the manus Dei, and holding a Christogram on a long staff. The mintmark for Ravenna, R V, flanks him, and he tramples on a lion with a tail in the form of a serpent. The letters COB in the exergue indicate that it is a coin of refined gold (obryzum) from the mint of the imperial court, the Comitatus, accompanying the emperor.[1] (The western emperor Honorius issued a companion piece with an identical reverse, but bearing his own portrait and inscription on the obverse, and, while rare, it is much more common than this example of Theodosius. Kent, in RIC X, cites 15 examples of Honorius, and only 2 for Theodosius, in Paris and Vienna. A third specimen appeared in Leu 24, 16 April 64, lot 382. Mine makes the 4th one of which I am aware.) Unusual for the imperial portraits of this period, both Honorius and his junior colleague are helmeted in this joint issue. Kent places this series after the death of the senior eastern emperor Arcadius in 408 and following the usurpation of Constantine III in 407, noting that the warlike imagery of the helmeted busts may be in response to the new threat posed by Constantine’s usurpation of Britain, Gaul, and Spain. [2] Grierson, however, in his Catalogue of late Roman coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection : from Arcadius and Honorius to the accession of Anastasius, p. 201, dates the issue to 413, commemorating the defeat and death of Heraclian, Count of Africa and murderer of Stilicho, in Carthage in 413. The military imagery of the helmeted bust would fit in with either threat to the western throne. Tying the reverse imagery in with Heraclian’s rebellion and its suppression in 413, Grierson also notes that the lion is a symbol of Africa. Kent, in RIC X, p. 55-56 further identifies the serpent as a symbol of rebellion, here likely referring to the defeated usurper Johannes, also indicating that the serpent tailed lion composite creature recalls the lion and asp of Psalm 91.13 (of which more below). My other old friend: Valentinian III. Ravenna, ca. 430-45. Solidus 4.38 gr. 22 mm. hr. 6. RIC X, 2018, p. 366. Ex Giuseppe de Falco, Naples, ca. 1958. This second coin bears the portrait and inscription of Valentinian III, who ruled the western empire from 425-455. In contrast to the military imagery of the helmeted Theodosius II, Valentinian’s portrait is the usual ceremonial bust draped with a pearl diadem, with a large jewel at its center. The inscription reads DN PLA(CIDVS) VALENTI - NIANVS PF AVG. The reverse inscription VICTORI – A AVGGG recalls that of the first coin. In their essentials, the two reverses are variations on the same theme, a victorious emperor trampling upon a defeated enemy, aided by God. On this coin, Valentinian holds a long cross instead of a Christogram on a long staff, and instead of being crowned by the hand of God, he holds in his left hand a globe bearing a small figure of Victory who crowns him. The prostrate “foe” he vanquishes is a human headed serpent, instead of a lion. As on the previous coin, the mint signature R V flanks him. In the exergue, the certification that we once again have a coin of refined gold (obryzum) from the Comitatus appears in a slightly fuller form than on the previous coin: COM[itatvs] OB[ryzum]. However, it wasn’t until I looked at them side by side, that their reverses spoke to me with an allusion from the Psalms, as noted above. Taken together, the reverses of these two coins recall the promises of Psalm 91:13 (90:13 in the Septuagint numbering) “You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.” ἐπ᾽ ἀσπίδα καὶ βασιλίσκον ἐπιβήσῃ καὶ καταπατήσεις λέοντα καὶ δράκοντα. An analogous representation of this Biblical imagery appears in a sixth-century mosaic from the Archiepiscopal Chapel of the bishops' palace in Ravenna. A beardless, nimbate Christ, dressed as an emperor in military uniform, holds open a book showing the text of John 14.6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life". In His right hand He holds a long cross, recalling the coin of Valentinian III, and He tramples a lion and serpent beneath His feet. This Biblical allusion was given literal voice with delicious irony two and a half centuries later at the restoration of emperor Justinian II. Justinian II, (685–95 and 705–11) was the last ruler of the important Heraclian dynasty and is one of the few Byzantine emperors who returned to the throne after having been deposed and mutilated. Succeeding his father Constantine IV, he ruled for 10 years, but the unpopularity of his severe taxation and the cruelty and excesses of his financial administrator Stephen the Persian caused Leontios, the strategos of Hellas, to overthrow him, cut off his nose, and exile him to Cherson in 695. Stuck in this outpost, Justinian tested various nasal prosthetics, dripped, fumed, and bided his time, marrying the sister of the Bulgar kahn, Tervel, and cultivating his new in-law against his eventual return to power. Meanwhile, the usurper Leontius was in turn overthrown in 698 by Tiberios III Apsimar, who mutilated his nose and imprisoned him in the Dalmatou monastery. In 705, aided by Tervel, Justinian regained the throne and executed Tiberios and Leontios . In his Chronographia entry for the year 705/6, the eighth-century historian Theophanes tells the story: “As for Apsimaros and Leontios, he[Justinian] caused them to be paraded in chains through the whole City; and while games were being held in the Hippodrome and he himself was sitting on the throne, they were dragged publicily and thrown at his feet; and he trod on their necks until the end of the first race while the people cried, ‘You have set your foot on the asp and the basilisk, and you have trodden on the lion and the serpent!’ He then sent them to the Kynegion to be beheaded.” But that’s another story. [1] RIC X, p. 131 [2] RIC X, p. 24
Voulgar. I enjoyed your well researched article ! Both of these coins have fascinating iconography & your sharp eye did a great job of tying them to the famous mosaic at the bishops' palace at Ravenna . Your 1st coin is an important rarity, & no doubt an official issue from Ravenna. The 2nd solidus is a high grade gem that does pose some questions. Do you think this coin is an official issue from the Ravenna Mint or could it be a well done barbaric imitation ? This particular issue was popular & copied by different barbarian groups. The 3 coins pictured below were all sold by CNG, & are copies by different barbarian tribes in the name of Valentinian III. Triton X, Lot 886. Uncertain Germanic Tribe in Gaul (possibly Nordic) Triton XI, Lot ? CNG 464, Lot 12. Visigoths
Dear Al, You're correct that the Ravenna issues were imitated extensively, a point also mentioned by Kent in RIC X, p. 163. I am no expert in 5th c. gold, but to my eye, the wild and wonderful styles the CNG examples you show bear little similarity to what I think are the much more regular features of the reverse figure, and especially the small victory he holds on my specimen. Kent does attempt to define a chronology for this issue, based on the varying appearance of the Victory and her drapery as well as specific features of the standing emperor. But as I mentioned, I am no expert in this series and would welcome any comments from other CTalkers. It is a project I would like to take on in my retirement (may it come soon!) All best, M.
Voulgar., You are probably correct . I did a search for Valentinian solidi & was surprised at the variety of styles that came from the official mints . The coin pictured below is presently for sale on CNGs Coin Shop. Go to their website for the details . This coin is not advertised as barbarous, so they believe it's an official mint coin, however, the coin looks surprisingly similar to the 3rd image I posted earlier, that is Visigothic .
Voulgar., Try & get Tejas (Dirk) to chime in on your coin, he has an impressive knowledge of late Roman gold & barbarian coinage, along with great examples in his collection .
I already did it for you -- it means putting an @ before his name, as I did above, resulting in his being notified that he's been mentioned.
Ah, thank you, DonnaML! I am a little ignorant when it comes to this sort of thing! My grandchildren sometimes try to teach me but my eyes glaze over and I wander off in a daze....Mike
