Tonight's post has to do with Theodosius and his immediate family. No, not CT's very own @Theodosius but rather Theodosius I. In my opinion, Theodosius I was one of the last "great" late Roman emperors and his dynasty did pretty well, producing 5 emperors over the span of 78 years (379-457 AD). I have managed to round out the immediate family (at least as far as what is affordable to me) tonight with the addition of Theodosius' wife, Aelia Flaccilla. I've been trying to add more women to the FF collection at the behest of my daughter and this coin was a no-brainer since it fulfilled both her request and also a love of mine; anything related to Victory. The fact that it was affordable also helped Without further ado, here is our set of Theodosian family coin. We'd love to see your favorites and if you can round out the rest of the dynasty, that'd be great too! Theodosius I 378-383 AD AE2 Constantinople Mint Obverse: DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Emperor standing facing, head right on galley, raising right hand; Victory at helm. Wreath in left field. Mintmark CONA ex: Doug Smith Aelia Flacilla 383-386 AD AE2 Constantinople Mint Obverse: AEL FLACCILLA AVG, mantled bust right in elaborate headdress & necklace Reverse: SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Victory seated right, inscribing a christogram on shield set on narrow column. Mintmark CON ex: Ken Dorney Arcadius 383-408 AD AE4 Obverse: DN ARCADIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right Reverse: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory walking left, trophy over shoulder, dragging captive. Chi-Rho in left field. ex: Warren Esty Aelia Eudoxia 400-404 AD AE3 Cyzicus Mint Obverse: AEL EVDO-XIA AVG, diademed draped bust right Reverse: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory seated right on cuirass, pointing one hand at a shield inscribed with the Chi-Rho, supporting it on a column with her other hand. Mintmark: SMK Honorius 392-395 AD AE3 Antioch Mint Obverse: DN HONORI-VS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: VIRTVS-EXERCITI, emperor standing left, head right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield. Victory, standing beside him crowns him with a wreath which she holds in her right hand. Mintmark ANTΓ
Nice dynasty collection! My first ancient coin ever was a Theodosius I bronze. This was in the '70s when information was much harder to come by. It took me years to figure out that it was a real Roman coin and who the heck Theodosius was. John
I really need to work on photographing my Roman collection. I don't have too many of this dynasty photographed.
I don’t get to trot out the Theos often. Here are just a few that I have (poorly) photographed. Cyzicus RIC IX 25b Constantinople RIC IX 52c Siscia RIC IX 38b Cyzicus RIC IX 29a Siscia RIC IX 39a Nicomedia RIC IX 46a Constantinople RIC IX 57d Alexandria RIC IX 13c
Not quite the full dynasty yet. Still need the grandsons. Will never be able to afford Tbeo's 2nd wife either
I've been working on photographing our collection. The pictures are decent but not quite what I want. They lack depth I think. It is dun though. Gives me an excuse to handle them all
RIC IX Constantinople 57e 20mm 2.42g This is a great dynasty to collect. I think Valentinian III fits well here too. The story of his life and demise are quite dramatic: "But with the powerful Aetius no longer in control, the court was gripped by intrigues. With the death of Aetius, the powerful Petronius Maximus now hoped to take his place, but Heraclius prevented that, managing to persuade Valentinian III that this would be a dangerous appointment. Angry, Maximus sought revenge. And so he found two Scythians (or Huns), called Optila and Thraustila, who whose loyalty still demanded vengeance for the murder of their master Aetius. On 16 March AD 455, Optila and Thraustila were among the guards of the imperial entourage as the emperor practised archery on the Campus Martius at Rome. Everyone was taken by surprise as Thraustila stepped forward and murdered Heraclius and Optila struck the head of Valentinian III, causing wounds from which he died." Valentinian III | History Cooperative
A very impressive set, @furryfrog02! All I have (so far!) is Theodosius I in bronze and his two sons in gold -- my only two ancient gold coins. I hope to acquire more family members in the future.
Nice looking group FF, I especially like the Eudoxia... she's not easy to get in attractive condition! We haven't yet seen Theodosius II: Or Galla Placidia: This coin could represent Hilderic, who was the son of Huneric and Valentinian III's daughter, Eudocia:
My favorite from this dynasty is a "three for one" showing two sons (Arcadius and Honorius) and one grandson (Theodosius II). THEODOSIUS II AE4. 2.18g, 16.5mm. Constantinople mint, AD 406-408. RIC X Constantinople 144 (R4). O: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, star behind. R: GLORI-A ROMA-NORVM, Honorius and Arcadius standing vis-a-vis holding spears and shields; between them, young Theodosius II standing holding a globe and spear with his head turned to the right; CONSB in exergue.
Great dynasty coins all! @DonnaML those gold coins are beautiful! @Severus Alexander I don't think I will ever get my hands on a Gall Placidia. Very few bronze coins of her. @zumbly I love that 3-fer! @IMP Shogun That Valentinian III is beautiful and the story is interesting as well. I love how much palace intrigue there was in the late Roman era. Though I suppose there was always palace intrigue...
I can contribute with Aelia Flaccilla AD 383-386. Constantinople Follis Æ 23 mm, 4,80 g From the Tareq Hani collection RIC IX Constantinople 82 Date range: AD 383 – AD 388 Obv: AEL FLAC-CILLA AVG, bust of Aelia Flaccilla, with elaborate head-dress, draped, necklace, and mantle / Rev: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Emperor, head right, standing facing, arms folded on breast, Christogram to right. Mintmark CONSϵ and with a small Arcadius 1.40 g 13.3 mm Arcadius 383-408 Æ Nummus, Aes IV, half-centenionalis Mint: Nicomedia, 388-392, 1st shop. Obv: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG Draped, cuirassed bust with pearl diadem to the right Rev: SALVS REI - PVBLICAE Victoria striding to the left with her tropaeum on her shoulder, dragging a prisoner behind her with her left. In the exergue: SMNA RIC IX 45
Great family snapshot @furryfrog02 Theodosius I, AE2 - Heraclea mint, 1st officina DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right GLORIA ROMANORVM, Theodosius standing, head right, holding standard and globe. SMHA at exergue 6,38 gr Ref : Cohen # 18, Roman coins #4181, LRBC # 1986 Aelia Flaccilla, AE2 - Constantinople mint, 5th officina AEL FLAC CILLA, diademed and draped bust right SALVS REI PVBLICAE, Victory seated right, inscribing ChiRo on a shield. CON epsilon at exergue 4.75 gr Ref : Cohen # 4, LRBC # 2167 Honorius, Siliqua - Mediolanum mint, 2nd officina DN HONORIVS PF AVG, diademed draped and cuirassed bust right VIRTVS RO - MANORVM, Roma seated left, holding victory and sceptre, MDPS at exergue 2.09 gr Ref : Cohen # 59, Roman coins # 4250 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 Eudoxia, AE4 - Antioch mint, third officina [A]EL EVDOXIA AVG, diademed and draped bust right, above, hand holding wreath SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Victory seated right, inscribing christogram on shield. [ANT Gamma] at exergue 2.35 gr Ref : Roman coins # 4241 Based on the observation of another example minted with the same dies and with a visible exergue on reverse, the Antioch's third officina provenance of this coin is now certain. Thanks to Myriam at Nummus Bible II forum for her perspicacity and for providing me with the information Theodosius II, AE3 - Constantinople mint, 1st officina DN THEODOSIVS AVG, Diademed and cuirassed bust of Theodiosius facing, holding spear on his right shoulder CONCORDI A AVG, Constantinopolis, seated, facing, holding spear and a victory on globe. In exergue CONSA 2,25 gr, 16 mm Ref : RC # 4296, LRBC # 2212 var, RIC X, 90 (R4) Q
I only have three Theodosii. I like how they come in attractive large AE2 modules. Though the tiny AE4 can be nice in higher grade. This one I like for the massive radiate crown on the kneeling reverse figure.