IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type I hybrid, 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 on 13 October 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 November 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.

This coin has been sold on 13 August 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.