| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3113 | Auction date: 8 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 31067 Price realized: 6,000 USD (Approx. 5,470 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Galla Placidia, Western Roman Empire (AD 421-450). AV solidus (21mm, 4.45 gm, 5h) NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5. Rome, Group II, AD 441-450. GALLA PLA-CIDIA AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust of Galla Placidia right, seen from front, wearing beaded necklace and earring, hair elaborately weaved with long plait up the back of head and tucked under diadem, crowned with wreath by hand of God reaching down from above / IMP•XXXXII•COS•-XVII•P•P•, Constantinopolis enthroned left, left foot on prow, globus cruciger in outstretched right hand, grounded scepter in left; shield on ground to right, star in left field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X -, cf. 305 (five pellets in legend). This rare treasure unveils a tranquil portrait of the empress, delicately etched on a flan adorned with luminous fields, enriched by whispers of amber toning. The gentle play of light across the bright expanses intertwines with the warm amber hues, lending an aura of timeless elegance to the sovereign's tranquil visage. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 84 (20 May 2015), lot 1297; Künker, Auction 104 (27 September 2005), lot 650. The daughter of Theodosius I, Galla Placidia was born in AD 392 and proved to be a much more formidable character than her weakling brothers, Honorius and Arcadius. She would need such fortitude for, following the siege of Rome in AD 408-410, she was captured and held hostage by Visigoths. Whether by coercion or choice, she soon wed Atualf, son and successor of King Alaric. Perhaps she hoped the wedding would spur a modus vivendi between Roman and Barbarian, but if so her hopes were dashed by the murder of Ataulf in AD 416. A swap of hostages returned her to the Western Roman court, and in AD 417 Honorius married her off to the elderly general Constantius III, later briefly co-Emperor of the West. Although the union was not a happy one, it did produce a son and daughter. After the death of Constantius in AD 421, Honorius began to show a strange, incestuous attraction to his sister and she fled to the East Roman court of Theodosius II. When Honorius died in AD 423 and the Western throne was usurped by Johannes, Placidia returned with a sizeable army to depose the usurper in favor of her five-year-old son, who was duly installed as Valentinian III. She remained in Italy, ruling the Western Empire as regent until her son came of age, and played a major role in political and religious affairs until her death in AD 450. Her mausoleum in Ravenna, Italy, stands as a testament to her influence, adorned with magnificent mosaics reflecting the Christian faith she devoutly followed. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-galla-placidia-western-roman-empire-ad-421-450-av-solidus-21mm-445-gm-5h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-5-5/a/3113-31067.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3113-01082024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 10000-12000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > NYINC Signature Sale 3114 | Auction date: 16 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 33284 Price realized: 1,400 USD (Approx. 1,286 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Empire (AD 402-450). AV solidus (21mm, 4.51 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, ca. AD 441-450. D N THEODOSI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, cuirassed bust of Theodosius II facing, turned slightly right, spear in right hand over shoulder, shield decorated with horseman motif in left / IMP XXXXII COS-XVII P P, Constantinopolis enthroned left, left foot on prow, scepter in left hand, globus cruciger in right, grounded shield at side; star in left field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 285. Satiny flan with areas of toning around devices. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3091 (7 May 2021), lot 32205. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-theodosius-ii-eastern-roman-empire-ad-402-450-av-solidus-21mm-451-gm-5h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5/a/3114-33284.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3114-01162024 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 2:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32316 Price realized: 2,400 USD (Approx. 2,233 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Aelia Pulcheria, Eastern Roman Empire (AD 414-453). AV solidus (21mm, 4.45 gm, 5h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 2/5, graffito. Constantinople, AD 441-450. AEL PVLCH-ERIA AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust of Aelia Pulcheria right, seen from front, wearing necklace and earring, hair elaborately weaved with long plait up the back of head and tucked under diadem, crowned with wreath by hand of God reaching down from above / IMP•XXXXII COS•-XVII•P•P•, Constantinopolis enthroned left, left foot on prow, scepter in left hand, globus cruciger in right; grounded shield at side, star in left field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X -, 303 (pellet omitted after COS). Extremely rare with pellet placement, no examples in sales archives. A centered strike on a honey-toned flan. Aelia Pulcheria, the daughter, sister and wife to three different East Roman emperors, played a critical role in maintaining the stability of the Eastern Roman regime, during the tumultuous early to mid-fifth century AD. Born circa AD 398 to Arcadius and Aelia Eudoxia, she had a far more dominating personality than her timid younger brother, Theodosius II. When Arcadius died in AD 408 and Theodosius ascended the throne, at the age of seven, Pulcheria took upon herself the role of her brother's protector. In AD 414, she came of age and the Senate declared her Augusta, or Empress, whereupon she took over the regency herself. She declared her intent to remain a virgin (possibly to avoid a political marriage), and took her brother's education into her own hands, seeing to it he learned how to look, act, and perform rituals like an Emperor; however he lacked backbone, which she had to provide to keep the Theodosian regime in undisputed power. Under her guidance, the Eastern Roman Empire successfully intervened in the West and installed her nephew, Valentinian III, on the throne (AD 424-425), while to the East, a brief war against Persia was successfully prosecuted (AD 421). When Theodosius was killed in a riding accident in AD 450, Pulcheria briefly ruled as sole empress before bowing to demands that she marry and thus chose a suitable man to rule as Augustus. She wisely chose the lowborn but capable Marcian, who proved to be the strong, even-handed ruler the Empire needed. The year following her marriage, Pulcheria was instrumental in summoning the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon, which established the basic principles of teaching the Eastern Orthodox Church. Pulcheria died in AD 453, having kept her vows of virginity and defense of her Imperial dynasty for a half-century and left all of her possessions to the poor. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-aelia-pulcheria-eastern-roman-empire-ad-414-453-av-solidus-21mm-445-gm-5h-ngc-choice-xf-5-5-2-5-/a/3115-32316.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Hong Kong Signature Sale 3111 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 36045 Price realized: 1,300 USD (Approx. 1,207 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Valentinian II, Western Roman Empire (AD 375-392). AV solidus (21mm, 4.45 gm, 5h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, 6th officina, 25 August AD 383-28 August AD 388. D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Valentinian II right, seen from front / CONCORDI-A AVGGG S, Constantinopolis seated facing on throne, helmeted head right, right foot on prow, grounded scepter in right hand, globe in outstretched left hand; CONOB in exergue. RIC IX 69b2. Radiant example with clear fields and gamboge yellow flan. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-valentinian-ii-western-roman-empire-ad-375-392-av-solidus-21mm-445-gm-5h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5/a/3111-36045.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3111-12092023 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 1000-1500 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32315 Price realized: 900 USD (Approx. 837 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Empire (AD 402-450). AV solidus (21mm, 4.50 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Constantinople, 3rd officina, AD 423-424. D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust of Theodosius II facing, head turned slightly right, spear in right hand over shoulder, shield with horseman motif in left / VOT XX-MVLT XXX Γ, Victory standing facing, head left, grounded long jeweled cross in right hand, star above to left; CONOB in exergue. RIC X 225. A handsome piece with tantalizing luster. From the James Lomiento , Jr. Collection. Ex Harlan J. Berk, private sale with old dealer's tag included. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-theodosius-ii-eastern-roman-empire-ad-402-450-av-solidus-21mm-450-gm-12h-ngc-au-5-5-3-5-brushed/a/3115-32315.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Hong Kong Signature Sale 3111 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 36049 Price realized: 1,200 USD (Approx. 1,114 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Theodosius II, Eastern Roman Empire (AD 402-450). AV solidus (21mm, 4.48 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Constantinople, 5th officina, AD 420-422. D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust of Theodosius II facing, head turned slightly right, spear in right hand over shoulder, shield with horseman motif in left / VOT XX-MVLT XXX Є, Victory standing facing, head left, grounded long jeweled cross in right hand; CONOB in exergue. RIC X 219. Attractively rendered with glowing radiance. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-theodosius-ii-eastern-roman-empire-ad-402-450-av-solidus-21mm-448-gm-5h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5/a/3111-36049.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3111-12092023 HID02906262019 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 1000-1500 USD |  |
