Ancient Art & Numismatics
RI382 An Excessively Rare Roman Gold Medallion of 1 1/4 Solidi or Aureus of Arcadius (383-408 C.E.), of the Few Surviving Aureii of the Period
The Roman Empire The mint is Roma unless otherwise stated
Arcadius, 383 – 408
d=23 mm
Medallion of 1 ¼ solidi or aureus, Ravenna circa 403-405, AV 5.38 g. DN ARCADI – VS P F AVG Pearl- diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA – ROMANORVM R - V. Victory advancing l., holding wreath in r. hand and palm in l. In exergue, COMOB. RIC 1285. LRC –.
Of the highest rarity, apparently only four specimens known. Extremely fine
Ex Triton I, 1997, 1997, 1730 and NAC 15, 1999, 523 and NAC 24, 2002, European Nobleman, 329 sales. One of the uncommon denominations of Late Roman gold is the aureus, which by 324 had been abandoned in favour of the solidus, a lighter coin Constantine had introduced to a mixed reception in 309. Diocletian had attempted to stabilize his aureus at 60 to the Roman pound (the standard to which these later aurei were struck), which was considerably heavier than Constantine’s solidus, struck at 72 to the pound. Once the lighter solidus had supplanted the aureus, it remained the standard of the empire well into Byzantine times. By the time Arcadius reigned, the aureus was but a memory, and the few that were struck were certainly intended for ceremonial use. The relationship between the two denominations is of some interest, for the aureus was essentially 1and 1/4 solidi. Because of its rarity and archaic weight standard, some researchers refer to the post-Constantinian aureus as a ‘festaureus’. Since four ‘festaurei’ were the equivalent of five solidi the denomination was at least compatible with accession bonuses, which had been fixed at five gold solidi and a pound of silver during the period of Julian II (and remained so through the reign of Anastasius I). Though not an accession issue, this ‘festaureus’ belongs to an important period, c. 403, when Arcadius celebrated his 20th year as emperor (vicennalia), and Honorius celebrated his 10th (decennalia).
NAC40, 882
RI382 An Excessively Rare Roman Gold Medallion of 1 1/4 Solidi or Aureus of Arcadius (383-408 C.E.), of the Few Surviving Aureii of the Period
The Roman Empire The mint is Roma unless otherwise stated
Arcadius, 383 – 408
d=23 mm
Medallion of 1 ¼ solidi or aureus, Ravenna circa 403-405, AV 5.38 g. DN ARCADI – VS P F AVG Pearl- diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA – ROMANORVM R - V. Victory advancing l., holding wreath in r. hand and palm in l. In exergue, COMOB. RIC 1285. LRC –.
Of the highest rarity, apparently only four specimens known. Extremely fine
Ex Triton I, 1997, 1997, 1730 and NAC 15, 1999, 523 and NAC 24, 2002, European Nobleman, 329 sales. One of the uncommon denominations of Late Roman gold is the aureus, which by 324 had been abandoned in favour of the solidus, a lighter coin Constantine had introduced to a mixed reception in 309. Diocletian had attempted to stabilize his aureus at 60 to the Roman pound (the standard to which these later aurei were struck), which was considerably heavier than Constantine’s solidus, struck at 72 to the pound. Once the lighter solidus had supplanted the aureus, it remained the standard of the empire well into Byzantine times. By the time Arcadius reigned, the aureus was but a memory, and the few that were struck were certainly intended for ceremonial use. The relationship between the two denominations is of some interest, for the aureus was essentially 1and 1/4 solidi. Because of its rarity and archaic weight standard, some researchers refer to the post-Constantinian aureus as a ‘festaureus’. Since four ‘festaurei’ were the equivalent of five solidi the denomination was at least compatible with accession bonuses, which had been fixed at five gold solidi and a pound of silver during the period of Julian II (and remained so through the reign of Anastasius I). Though not an accession issue, this ‘festaureus’ belongs to an important period, c. 403, when Arcadius celebrated his 20th year as emperor (vicennalia), and Honorius celebrated his 10th (decennalia).
NAC40, 882