Hi all, I recently picked up this tiny little ae4. Can anyone help with identification? I'm pretty sure the crucifix-within-wreath gives it away as 5th century but the legends are a pain to read! My initial thought was Theodosius II but he wasn't the only one to produce coins with this design. Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks
I'm not sure I see the question as what the coin is as opposed to what it once was. I see it as Theodosius based on the general blob shapes following DN on the obverse left vut am not saying that FF02 is wrong here. Valentinian III is more rare but wishing and suspecting do not make a coin ID. If you want a chance of a better ID, try this: Take a small piece of the thinnest aluminum foin you can find. This is a use where the cheapest stuff from the Dollar Tree is better than the name brand Extra Heavy Duty material you might use on the grill. Place the coin on a solid surface face up and cover it with the foil. Using something slightly flexible like your thumb or a pencil eraser (new and not worn to a nub) and press the foil down into every recess of the coin surface. Use force but do not allow the foil to shift even in the slightest bit. Now, examine the foil impression both on the inside and outside wiggling it in the light. Are the letters after DN more likely TH or VA? IMHO even if you establish the coin read VAL, selling it as a Valentinian III would be pushing the matter. Upgrade coin ID's need evidence beyond any doubt. All of mine are Theodosius II. Some of these have since left my collection and were sold in John Anthony's Coin Talk sales over the last few years. As you can see, style varies a lot on these. You need legends. The same goes for the mint ID. Style matching is fine for expert specialists. The rest of us need to read the letters under the cross. My first coin below is nothing to look at but does have full legend making it a bit unusual. The last one has some letter traces that could suggest Valentinian but I sold it as a Theodosius using the theory that coins are guilty of being the common variety until proven innocent. Perhaps someone got a 'deal'. Probably not.
My guess of V3 was based on the placement of clasp(?) on the shoulder in OP's coin along with where it was showing on the tesorillo page. I didn't dig through wildwinds yet. I defer to Doug's knowledge though. These late late Roman bronzes sure are tough to ID without legends.
I see your point, attribution without legends certainly isn't easy! It's hard to see where the letters stop and the corrosion begins. Theodosius II is looking like the likely candidate though (Valentinian III probably is just wishful thinking). Attribution will probably stay as "Theodosius II (?)" for now. Still, not bad for £3 (about $4.25) from a box of un-assorted LRBs.
I feel your pain! Doug's aluminum foil technique is intriguing and I may give that a whirl, if I can find the aluminum foil. My own kitchen sometimes baffles me. Although I cannot help you out with ID on this, I can commiserate. Yesterday this came in the mail - I was lucky because THEO was visible, but as for the rest...Horrible as it is, it is my "youngest" Roman coin (not counting Byzantine): Theodosius II Æ4 (11 mm) (425-435 A.D.) Heraclea Mint D N THEOD[OSI-VS•P•F•AV]G, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / [CONCOR-]DIA AVG, Victory advancing forward, holding two wreaths; [SM?]H in exergue. RIC X Theodosius II (East) 432 (0.69 grams / 11 mm) Attribution Notes: Mintmark unclear; there are three possibilities: RIC X Heraclea 431 (SMHA) RIC X Heraclea 432 (SMH) RIC X Nicomedia 436 (SMNA) It seems to be an "H" with nothing behind it, thus the RIC 432 guess. Then last month, this ancient potato chip: Arcadius (?) Æ 16 (395-401 A.D.) Unknown Mint (off flan) D N AR?[CADI-VS P F AVG]pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, star behind / [GLORI-A ROMA]-NORVM, Arcadius, Honorius, Theodosius II standing. Mintmark off flan. Nicomedia RIC X 62 (1.50 grams / 12 x 16 mm) Attribution Note: Not sure of obverse inscription; "AR" for Arcadius possibly there, but could be Arcadius, Honorius or Theodosius II. Mintmark off flan; six locations possible for this issue.
Whenever you have an AE4 with a cross reverse, no reverse inscription, and an indecipherable obverse legend, guess Theodosius II. You will be correct 99.9% of the time. He cranked these little suckers out by the millions for over 20 years.
