Obv. DNTHEODOSI – VS˙P˙F˙AVC; bust of the emperor facing, head ¾ to the right, wearing a diademate helmet with a plume, and armour (a die crack visible on the cuirass); a spear in the right hand, the left arm covered with a shield with St. George slaying the dragon.
Rev. IMP.XXXXII˙COS· (die crack over numerals) – XVII˙P˙P˙; Constantinopolis in a long robe and helmet, sitting on the throne to the left, stretching out his right hand holding a globus cruciger, in the left, resting on a round shield, holding a long scepter, left foot resting on rostra; in left field, 8-pointed star; COMOB in ex.
Gold, 4.28 g, 21.5 mm. RIC X 293; DOC 423; Depeyrot 84/1. Near Extremely Fine, in obverse field, an ancient graffiti (LXIII?); the Rev. type perfectly visible.
Theodosius II was appointed co-ruler of his father, Arcadius, at the age of only one year. He became sole ruler at the age of seven, and was one of the longest-reigning Roman emperors. He was declared of age in 416, albeit his sister, Aelia Pulcheria, continued to rule. The reign passed under the constant pressure of the Huns, which forced the emperor to build new defensive walls of Constantinople, preserved to this day. He also left an important law code.
Solidus, the Roman gold standard, was introduced by Diocletian, not Constantine the Great, as is usually stated in the literature. Constantine only reduced the solidus and increased the minting volume. The solidus standard survived until the 13th century, being the most durable monetary standard in history.
