Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2 | Auction date: 3 March 2025 |
Lot number: 131 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot ![]() | |
Lot description: Migration Period The Ostrogoths. Uncertain mint AD 491-518. Pseudo-Imperial issue in the name of Anastasius I. Solidus AV 19 mm, 4,50 g D N ANAƧTAƧIVƧ PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG ᗺ (sic, retrograde), Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. Extremely Fine Not in the standard references; cf. Roma Auction 27, Lot 827. Starting price: 2000 EUR | ![]() |
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2 | Auction date: 3 March 2025 |
Lot number: 121 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot ![]() | |
Lot description: Roman Imperial Valentinian III AD 425-455. Struck AD 425-429. Constantinople Solidus AV 21 mm, 4,49 g D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE B, Theodosius II and Valentinian III seated facing, both nimbate, each holding mappa in right hand, cruciform sceptre in left; star above, CONOB in exergue. Nearly Mint State RIC X 242; Depeyrot 79/2. Valentinian III was Western Roman Emperor from AD 425 to 455, a reign marked by the empire's continued decline and growing dependency on barbarian generals. Born in AD 419, Valentinian was the son of Constantius III and Galla Placidia, sister of Emperor Honorius. His ascent to the throne was largely due to his mother's influence and the support of the Eastern Roman Emperor, Theodosius II. Valentinian became emperor at the age of six after the defeat of the usurper Joannes, with his reign initially governed by Galla Placidia as regent. Throughout his life, Valentinian wielded little actual power, as military and political authority in the Western Roman Empire was increasingly dominated by influential generals like Aetius and others. During Valentinian's reign, the Western Empire faced severe external pressures. The Vandals under King Geiseric seized Carthage in AD 439, establishing a powerful kingdom in North Africa and cutting off vital grain supplies to Rome. The empire also faced incursions from the Huns, led by Attila. Aetius, the empire's most capable general, managed to halt Attila's advance at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in AD 451, one of the last major victories of the Western Roman military. Valentinian's reign was marred by internal instability and intrigue. His relationship with Aetius deteriorated in his later years, culminating in Valentinian personally murdering the general in AD 454, reportedly fearing that Aetius sought to usurp him. This act destabilized the government, as Aetius' death left the empire without its most competent defender. In AD 455, Valentinian was assassinated in a conspiracy likely orchestrated by disaffected members of his court and factions loyal to Aetius. His death marked the end of the Theodosian dynasty in the West. Shortly thereafter, the Vandals sacked Rome, further underscoring the rapid disintegration of imperial authority. Valentinian III is often remembered as a weak and ineffectual ruler whose reign saw the Western Roman Empire move closer to its eventual collapse. While external pressures played a significant role in the empire's decline, Valentinian's inability to effectively govern or manage the internal dynamics of his court contributed to the fragmentation and vulnerability of the Western Empire. Starting price: 1500 EUR | ![]() |
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2 | Auction date: 3 March 2025 |
Lot number: 116 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot ![]() | |
Lot description: Roman Imperial Honorius AD 393-423. Struck AD 420-422 . Constantinople Solidus AV 21 mm, 4,45 g D N HONORIVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VOT XX MVLT XXX I, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; CONOB in exergue. Nearly Mint State Depeyrot 74/1; RIC X 218. Honorius was Western Roman Emperor from AD 393 to 423, ascending to the throne at the age of eight as the son of Emperor Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla. His long but largely ineffective reign coincided with the continued decline of the Western Roman Empire, marked by external invasions, internal instability, and the loss of key territories. When Honorius became emperor, the Roman Empire had recently been divided between his family: his older brother, Arcadius, ruled the Eastern Empire, while Honorius inherited the Western half. His early reign was dominated by the regency of Stilicho, a capable general and statesman who defended the empire against numerous threats. Stilicho's victories included repelling invasions by barbarian groups such as the Visigoths and Vandals, and he played a key role in stabilizing Honorius' rule. However, Honorius was largely a figurehead, relying heavily on Stilicho and other advisors. In AD 408, Honorius, influenced by court intrigue, had Stilicho executed on charges of treason. Stilicho's death weakened the Western Empire's military defenses, leaving it vulnerable to the Visigoths under Alaric. This culminated in the sack of Rome in AD 410, a shocking event that symbolized the empire's decline and profoundly impacted the Roman world. Honorius' reign also saw the loss of vital provinces. Britain was effectively abandoned around AD 410 due to the empire's inability to defend it. In addition, other regions, including Spain and parts of Gaul, fell to various barbarian groups. Honorius' court, based in the secure city of Ravenna, remained largely detached from these crises, with Honorius himself often appearing indifferent to the empire's deteriorating state. Despite his limited personal involvement in governance, Honorius issued decrees aimed at strengthening Christianity within the empire, including laws against pagan practices. His reign thus contributed to the continued Christianization of the Roman state. Honorius died in AD 423 without an heir, plunging the Western Roman Empire into a brief succession crisis resolved by the elevation of Valentinian III. Honorius' legacy is one of weakness and passivity, his reign a pivotal period in the Western Roman Empire's collapse as it struggled to confront the growing pressures of barbarian invasions and internal disarray. Starting price: 1500 EUR | ![]() |