IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type II, B) (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 02 November 2014 by Numismatic Naumann, Auction 24, lot 708, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2200951, link to their website: https://www.numismatik-naumann.at/. Coin resold on 12 February 2015 by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 306, lot 2361, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2347940. Then resold on 02 September 2015 by Münz Zentrum Rheinland, Auction 174, lot 549, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2591358.

Mark CONOB.

This example is the only one I have found for this number that has all the characteristics of type II. Pending confirmation of the copy sold on 05/05/2008 by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 256, lot 672 (see comments below).

I found only one coin of type II, A (AYC#29, RIC -), that is, with a long, elongated shield. For this type II series, the coins are often "hybrid," containing characteristics of both types: I and II. What is visible almost every time is the legend arriving at the level of the shield and a smaller figure. These coins are therefore closer to type II than to type I, however they often show either a rigid drapery or a triangular-shaped knee or both at the same time. We can therefore see that this series resembles a transitional type. This type also mixes the CONOB and COMOB marks, and the majority of coins use the COMOB mark.

Therefore, there is predominantly type B for the CONOB mark of type II, whereas the COMOB marks include both shield variants equally. I always rank the CONOB mark first in my ranking because it seems obvious to me that we are observing an important movement in the mint which is gradually relocating until only the COMOB mark is used (therefore for a mobile mint comitatus).

Lets note this interesting example with the letter D of DN very small and offset, the first bar of the following letter N extending well beyond (die break?) and the letter I of IMP completely included in the ground line (often seen on many coins but not this many). Coin sold on 05 May 2008 by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 256, lot 672, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=465657. It is possible that the letter G of AVG is re-engraved on another letter, that IMP is actually INP, just as CONOB could be COMOB, the quality of the magnification of the photo I have does not allow me to classify the coin under a specific number; I therefore classify this coin here by default.

Type II: with the mark CONOB or COMOB (CONOB 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.