Rome Sacked by Alaric and the Visigoths - August 24th, 410

Please share any coins of the rulers of the time...Theodosius II reigned in Constantinople and was unable to intervene. Meanwhile, the pusillanimous Honorius hung out in Ravenna and missed the action.







Meanwhile, Theodosius II began the construction of the famed Theodosian walls to avoid the fate of Rome...

 

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Theodosius II (402 - 450 A.D.)
Æ4
O: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: cross in wreath, SMKB in exergue.
Cyzicus Mint
1g
13mm
RIC X 449

 

..truly a word of description

 

Nice coins!
My man Honorius was useless but some coins are pretty cool.

 

..i've got a couple of the lil booger who didn't live up to his name...time and again history shows us that just because you are born of an emperor doesn't mean you are cut out to be an emperor...indeed, 97% of the time seems it was a death sentence and an end to your branch of the family/gens the small Ae is 13mm

 

There are two interpretations for the reverse design of this solidus, the first being Honorius with his foot on a captive, the second being Alaric, King of the Visigoths with his foot on Honorius .

 

Wishful thinking on the part of the Western Roman Empire's PR department.

 

Nice coins all! I do need to pick up a "heavy" Honorius bronze at some point but they are not that common.

 

a.c.h., What are the NGC specs on your solidus ? The coin has nice luster .

 

My Honorius solidus (RIC X 1287):

 

Oh well, what can you expect from someone whose pet was a chicken?

 

Theodosius II:

Theodosius II, Roman Empire, AE4, 425–235 AD, Heraclea mint. Obv: DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG; bust of Theodosius II, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: Cross within a wreath; in exergue, SMHA. 11mm, 0.88g. Ref: RIC X Theodosius II (East) 442.

And here is Honorius on horseback, trying to get as much distance as possible between himself and the angry Visigoths:

Honorius, Roman Empire, AE3, 392–395 AD, Cyzicus mint. Obv: DN HONORIVS PF AVG; bust of Honorius, draped, cuirassed, and diademed, r. Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM; emperor on horseback r., raising r. hand; in exergue, SMKA. 17mm, 1.80g. Ref: RIC IX Cyzicus 29c.

 

Thats incredible <3

 

Thanks! I agree, even though David Sear graded it as only "almost EF" -- not that I care in the least!

 

I believe what we see here is what would be called 'net grading' where the grade is reduced a little or a lot for faults. The certificate mentions a slight bend in the flan which could have been worse making the coin overall a VF. Before NGC introduced their numbering system and added grades above EF based solely on wear, ancient coins topped out at EF except for the rare FDC (fleur de coin) properly used for only perfect examples. The coin is very nice but I believe most old school graders would accept "almost EF" as fair. Some purists would see the wear on the hair right of the diadem and say it was overgraded. That is why Sear placed that disclaimer paragraph at the bottom and why you are 110% correct not to "care in the least". I am not a professional grader and have never been solicited to become one BUT I would expect this coin to get a 'Fine Style' on a current slab recognizing the fact that the portrait makes Honorius look like a

.

How many kids who grew up while dad was in power turned out to be strong and 'good' emperors? Titus and Constantine I were adults when their fathers rose to power. Constantius II, perhaps?

Siliqua, Mediolanum, clashed dies, ex. Ken Dorney 1998


AE
This one is so bad it is good and, better, identifiable ORIVS.


As a representative coin of Honorius, I prefer this type showing the three emperors scaled by height. For about ten, Honorius almost seems tall. Mine is a little tight but many of these are off center or small flan enough to make it hard to tell who is on the obverse.


Honorius was emperor in the West but almost all of his bronze coins we see were from Eastern mints. Who has a Western bronze? Is this a case where gold is more common than bronze?

 

Silver coin (Siliqua) minted at Mediolanum (Milan) MDPS, during the reign of HONORIUS in 402 A.D. Obv. D.N.HONORIVS.P.F.AVG. Pearl- Diad., draped, & cuir. bust r. Rev. VIRTVS.ROMANORVM. Roma seated l. on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear. RCS #4250. RICX #1228. RSC #591b.

 

- Bronze coin (AE4) minted during the reign of THEODOSIUS II between 425 - 435 A.D. Obv. D.N.THEODOSIVS.P.F.AVG. diad., dr. & cuir. bust right. Rev. No legend. Cross in wreath. RCS #4297. DVM #36 pg.327.

 

. Smyrna - Bronze coin (AE 3) minted at CONST = Arelate France during the reign of HONORIUS between 393 - 423 A.D. Obv. D.N.HONORIVS.P.F.AVG. Rev. VIRTVS.EXERCITI. Honorius standing, facing r., crowned y Victory standing l., beside him. RCS #4256.