Purchased a super cool Theodosius I ancient with Christian Cross AND Goddess Victory

I really enjoy ancients that show the early struggle between Roman polytheism and budding Christianity. This tug-of-war is often depicted on coins and I really think these coins are very cool.
Here is a Theodosius I (379-395AD.) AE 4
Nicomedia Mint. RIC.45b
Notice how to the left of the Goddess Victory(holding an enemy soldier captive), there is a Christian cross to the left of her.
Gotta remember that this is only about 300-350 yrs after Christ was crussified, so both religions are trying to dominate.
As I said, "super cool"

 

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Nice addition to your collection :thumb:

 

Thank you De Orc.
Its not a question of WILL the ancient coin bug will bite you, its WHEN

 

Theodosius was the last emperor to rule both east and west and split the empire between his two sons never to be reunited before the west fell. Theodosius was not only hard on pagans but led the fight to eliminate Christian varieties not in line with his beliefs. The Christian emperors before him had been a mix of Orthodox and Arian with Theodosius started Orthodox Catholicism as a requirement for being emperor. One of his better laws in this area was to make it a separate crime for a magistrate to overlook a prosecution opportunity of a Christian heratic or a pagan for practicing their religions.

There is currently dispute whether he cancelled the Olympics as 'Pagan' after the 393 games or whether they just died a natural death. You can find references making both claims. His grandson, Theodosius II continued with the work his grandfather started so you need to be careful when attributing acts to which Theodosius was current.

 

cool addition

 

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it.

 

Great!!