IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type I, A) (441 / 450)

Bust of Theodosius II facing, cuirassed, wearing a helmet with crest and a pearl diadem. Holding a spear passing behind his head with the right hand and a decorated shield with a horseman slaying an enemy, with the left hand.

Constantinople seated left on a throne, holding a spear with the left hand and a globe surmounted by a cross with the right hand. A shield behind the throne and a star in the field to the left.

Photo of a coin sold the 13/10/2021 by Heritage Auctions, Auction 232141, lot 62285, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8634408, link to their website: https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/byzantine/ancients-theodosius-ii-eastern-roman-empire-ad-402-450-av-solidus-21mm-443-gm-6h-choice-vf-scuffs/a/232141-62285.s?type=acsearch232141. It is the copy below:

Photo from the catalog quoted below, with kind permission of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, link to Gallica for download the catalog:: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bd6t5382796m/f162.item  Catalog 334 from Dr Busso Peus, 04/11/1992, lot 1095. This is the copy illustrating RIC X n°322. The mark is CONOB and not COMOB as we seem to read, this copy being resold by Heritage Auction where we clearly see the CONOB mark. The RIC X 322 therefore does not exist as noted with the COMOB mark.

One coin sharing the same deis has been sold the 13/08/2013 by Stack's Bowers Galleries, August 2013 Chicago ANA Auction, lot 34085, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1652305.

Variant with obverse legend DN THEODO - SIVS PF AVG as on older issues from other types. I believe this is an early obverse die from Constantinople and transported to the new comitatus mint. We see the same trace of rust which indicates a damaged die on different examples. Furthermore, the reverse die with INP instead of IMP further demonstrates that this association was created in confusion and probably by a barbarian engraver.

Type I: with mark COMOB (CONOB here) and the reverse legend usually ending before the shield with a square throne, the right leg as a triangular protuberance, stiff drapery and vertical scepter. This corresponds to type III of RIC X. Var A is the same as RIC X: elongated and long shield.

See AYC #21, RIC 323: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-a-441-450, for the commentary explaining the entire coinage.