IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P

Bust of Galla Placidia to the right, draped, wearing a diadem of pearls, a necklace of pearls and long earrings. Above, the hand of God crowning her.

IMPXXXXIICOS – XVIIPP

Constantinopolis seated left, holding a globe surmounted by a Latin cross with the right hand and a scepter with the left hand. The left arm resting on a shield and the left foot resting on a prow. A star under the globe.

Photo of a coin sold the 20/05/2015 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 84, lot 1297, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2472628, link to their website: https://www.arsclassicacoins.com/. I report a copy with same dies sold on the sale ''Platt, vente numismatique du 17 et 18 mars 1970, Catalogue de vente de monnaies romaines et Byzantines de la Coll. du Docteur H. Longuet, hotel drouot'' lot 239. Here is the photo:

Photo from the catalog quoted above, with kind permission of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, link to Gallica for download the catalog: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9779112s/f80.item.r=aelia%20ariadne.

The reverse of this coin is punctuated by 6 dots, the RIC X noted two coins: the one with 5 dots where the missing dot is after COS (AYC # 3 var, RIC 305) and the one with 3 dots where the missing dots are located after IMP, XXXXII and COS (AYC # 3 var 2, RIC 317). I am referencing this variant with all the dots for the first time (unless some work beyond my knowledge has already referenced it). No cross on the shoulder on the obverse for this type.

I have only seen one obverse die associated with the three reverse variants so far: 6 dots (this coin classified here), 5 dots and 3 dots. I notice that the mintmark is COMOB instead of CONOB as is the case for the Constantinople coinage. We can therefore wonder if this type of which there seems to be only one obverse die, was not rather struck in a “Comitatensian” mint.

Unlike other mints, the pearl necklace never seems double.