IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type 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.

One coin sold on 20 September 2004 by Auktionen Münzhandlung & Sonntag, Auction 2, lot 1209, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=186127.

Type A shield (large). The RIC 285 references only one shield: small and round, therefore corresponding to my type B which itself corresponds to type III of the RIC X (from n°321). the type I (corresponding to my type type II here) of RIC does not classify any shield variant (only a small and round one, whereas the example illustrating the n°285 is large).To be clear, I classified RIC type I as type II and type III as type I because I noted an evolution in the strikes and a probable shift in the mint, showing strikes gradually progressing from CONOB to COMOB and whose design variations, partly referenced in RIC X, are indicators of changes in this mint. 

This is one of only three Type II coins with the A (large) shield i found. Currently, all other Type II A copies with the COMOB mark have a variant legend. We observe that our sample of type A coins is three times smaller than the number of type B coins (all variants combined). This is similar to the CONOB mark, where type A coins were even more numerous than type B.

Here is the other type A coin: coin sold on 31 May 2021 by Teutoburger Münzauktion, lot 244, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8170709. The third coin of type A is the coin illustrated by RIC X plate 11, no. 285, reference: Stockholm Kungelige Myntkabinett, We note in passing that the shield on this coin is of type A (large), whereas group I, in which this No. 285 appears, only references one type of shield: small and round.

There is a coin that could have been the fourth example of this number, but until further information is available, I am excluding it from the classification as it appears dubious. Indeed, on the reverse, the letters P in IMP and the first X that follows are not normal. The shape of the letter P is rectangular and does not form a loop anywhere. The two letters extend beyond the die edge. A die break? In that case, as I mentioned earlier, where is the loop of the P? We can see the inside of the rectangle forming the letter P, completely empty. One could imagine it's a clumsy engraving started too close to the edge and then "corrected." Furthermore, on the obverse, there's a letter D completely misaligned with the rest of the inscription. So, both dies would have been created at the same time and share the same type of alignment error? Upon closer inspection, there's a raised shape beneath the overhang of the letters P and X. On the obverse, the letter D has a sort of raised line which, if it stood alone, would logically have been interpreted as a die break. And we also see on this obverse a line extending from the letter H, resembling a kind of drip. By assembling all these points, I suspect the use of a mold which, upon removal, stretched the letters P and X and created a depression, the same thing occurring on the obverse with traces of grout. Other traces of this grout are also visible elsewhere. The hollows on the chin and neck may have been created by a cracked mold. This coin requires in-depth analysis, ideally with the coin in hand. In conclusion, a coin with so many breaks would have been worn and wouldn't have such deep and fine details. Here is the coin.:

Photo of a coin sold on 29 January 2014 by Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 319, lot 571, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3300395, link to their website: https://www.cngcoins.com/. Coin already sold on 17 May 2007 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction R, lot 1660, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=373168, then sold on 12 November 2009 by Stack's Bower Galleries, Sale #151 - November 2009 Baltimore Auction - Sessions C & D, lot 8203, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=696008.  and sold again on 04 March 2010 by Stack's Bowers Galleries, Sale #153 - March 2010 Baltimore Auction, lot 81111, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=745555.

I add a coin that may show the word INP with the letter N reversed instead of IMP. It's impossible to confirm from a photo whether another bar correctly forms the letter M. Coin sold on 13 September 2018 by Paul Francis Jacquier, Auction 44, lot 442, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5248995.

Type II: with the mark CONOB or COMOB (COMOB here) and the reverse legend generally ending at the level of the shield. No legend punctuation on the reverse. A square, upright throne, the right knee is rounded, natural drapery, and a vertical scepter. This corresponds to Type I of RIC X. Variant B is the same as RIC X: a smaller, rounder shield.