IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type I - II, 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.
Marks
Coin sold the 21/09/2022 by Münz Zentrum Rheinland, Auction 196, lot 589, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=9904667. Coin already sold the 12/09/2014 by Paul - Francis Jacquier, Auction 39, lot 806, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2121069.
"Transitional" type from I to II. This coin shares common characteristics of type I and others of type II. The RIC X does not list any CONOB mark for its group I (n° 285 and 286), corresponding to this type II. As a reminder, type I shows:
- A reverse legend, usually ending before the shield. No legend punctuation on either side. A square, upright throne, the right leg being a triangular protuberance, rigid drapery, and a vertical scepter. This corresponds to type III of RIC X. Variant A is the same as RIC X: elongated and long shield, variant B: small and round.
Type II (corresponding to RIC 285 and 286) shows:
- A mint mark with large letters (difficult to compare via photos and not a criterion I necessarily consider for this type II), no punctuation on the reverse and sometimes one on the obverse, a throne occasionally tilted backward, smaller figure with flatter helmet, natural and tight drapery with vertical or slightly backward tilted scepter, the legend ends at the level of the shield which is small and round.
Here is the description given by the RIC for its Group I, which therefore corresponds to my Type II. To clearly identify a Type II, I use the following criteria: smaller figure, natural drapery with the right knee rounded, and legend ending at the level of the shield. Regarding the position of the legend, this criterion may sometimes be disregarded, as some coins have legends that end before or at the level of the shield. There are also two sub-variants: a long, elongated shield or a small, round shield. Whereas RIC X only list a small, round shield.
The example illustrating this AYC #28, RIC - is very interesting. Firstly, it shows a reverse die situated between type I and type II; indeed, while all the characteristics of type II are present: smaller figure, flatter helmet and above all: natural drapery and rounded right knee; the legend does not end at the level of the shield but before, as on type I. There are other coins that blend characteristics of Type I and II, and I will show some of them below. These coins would not have required individual or even group numbers because they are hand-engraved elements resulting from an artistic performance that did not necessarily concern itself with adhering to all the codes of an issue. Furthermore, it's likely complicated to define the exact width of each detail in the design, and one might end up with a legend that finishes before the shield due to space constraints. Nevertheless, this coin deserves a number because the obverse die is already associated with other coins of type I. These coins also feature various reverse dies. This die was therefore used extensively for Type I, and we can see that the wear on this example AYC #28, RIC - is more pronounced than on other Type I coins: The small dots in the field, created by repeated impacts and therefore being holes in the die, appearing in relief on the coin, are wider but above all we notice a larger break above the letter A of AVG. This coin thus adds further evidence that Type II is indeed a series of mintings following Type I. See AYC #21 var 2, RIC 323, which lists the coins using this same obverse die for Type I and explains the other element to consider on this coin: a spearhead inscribed in the field under the letter A: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-a-441450-1176.
I note here three other coins sharing the characteristics of type I and II, one coin sold the 22/03/2021 by Fritz Rudolf Künker, Auction 347, lot 1269, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7922871. The knee of the leg is triangular in shape, but the legend ends at the level of the shield. Another coin sold the 28/09/2021 by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Auction 123, lot 1383, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8563801. Type II reverse but with a triangular-shaped knee. However, this example remains open to interpretation regarding the shape of the leg. Finally, a third coin of barbaric style, type I but with a round-shaped knee, sold the 20/04/2018 by Bertolami Fine Arts, Auction 44, lot 517, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4942249.
As an example, I illustrate below another coin situated between the two types; the knee is not truly round (closer to type I), the helmet is round (type I) and no longer flat as on type II, the legend ends at the level of the shield (type II). Here is the coin:
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Photo of a coin sold the 23/09/2005 by Auktionshaus, Mail Bid Sale 9, lot 1389, link to the sale https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=243854, link to their website: http://www.hdrauch.com/. I note that it is possible that this obverse corner is shared with another coin, this one strongly reminding me of another coin. This coin shares the obverse die with the coin sold the 10/11/2016 by London Coin Galleries, Auction 3, lot 352, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4249117. The reverse die is type I but with the legend ending at the level of the shield as on type II; note also the dot under the letter F on obverse which appears to have been erased on the example sold by Autionshaus. It is interesting to consider the location of this dot, which is found on AYC #28, RIC - and other examples, see here: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-ii-a-441450. This dot, which is visible as the beginning of a spear on the AYC #28, RIC - is an engraving error or the beginning of a codification moving towards legend DN THEODOSI - VS 
P F AVG ? This dot being poorly placed? Or is it a die break that appears by chance in the same place on several dies? Or perhaps the beginning of a poorly placed spear engraving? Another example with a different reverse die and where this point can be seen under the letter F on the obverse, was sold on 24/09/2013 by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Auction 75, lot 2655, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1687768. I note that it is possible that this obverse die is shared with yet another coin, this one strongly reminding me of another example.
We can also note a hybrid example having a triangular-shaped knee and the legend ending at the level of the shield. It is interesting to note that the obverse die shows a legend that does not melt with the helmet; this makes it a notable peculiarity because the vast majority and perhaps even all obverse die always have the letter I glued or included with the helmet. Coin sold the 14/11/2012 by Heritage Europe, Auction 36, lot 277, lien vers la vente: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1421357.