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 03 December 2022 by Leu Numismatik, Web Auction 24, lot 3385, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=10326517, link to their website: https://leunumismatik.com/. Coin already sold on 19 March 2017 by Auctiones GmbH, eAuction #55, lot 267, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3703338.

Variant with shield B: small and round. 

Note another example with the same obverse die and a reverse die also classified under this number AYC #32, RIC 285, coin sold on 22 August 2019 by Roma Numismatics Limited, E-Sale 61, lot 1015, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6194674.

I'm adding two coins sharing the same reverse die, which are somewhat closer to Type I, given that the knee of the leg is rather pointed and the legend ends before the shield. Not entirely a hybrid die, but having a die with so many Type I characteristics while also retaining all the other details of Type II is rare. Occasionally, some dies show a triangular knee or a legend stopping slightly before the shield (for example), but the combination seen here is truly rare. This proves that these details are intentional and delineate striking series. That being said, as noted above, these two coins do not require individual numbers as hybrids of the two types. We are dealing with a Type II die. The first coin has been sold on 18 May 2016 by Fritz Rudolf Künker, eLive Auction 40, lot 7867, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3096368. The second coin sharing the same reverse die was sold on 16 May 2022 par Heritage Europe (formerly MPO Auctions), Auction 74, lot 3544, lien vers la vente: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=9504622, coin resold on  01 October 2022 by Salon Numizmatyczny Mateusz Wójcicki, Jubilee Auction 10, lot 7505, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=9977304.

Lets note this coin that shows numerous large die breaks, and the one of particular interest to us is the one with the letter O in COS, which is also misaligned. This coin may illustrate a retouching of the legend that created a weakness in the retouched letters, subsequently resulting in large holes in the die during striking. The coin has a rather crude style, suggesting that there may have been errors to correct in the legend. The coin measures 22.00 mm, weighs 4.44 grams and is official. Here is the coin:

Photo of a coin sold on 15 January 2019 by Heritage Acutions, Auction 3072, lot 35515, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5592163, link to the sale and their website: https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-theodosius-ii-eastern-roman-empire-ad-402-450-av-solidus-22mm-444-gm-6h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5/a/3072-35515.s?type=acsearch3072#. Another copy with the same dies has been sold on 21 October 2022 by Fritz Rudolf Künker, Auction 378 eLive, lot 6864, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=10051037. 

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.