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.

One coin sold on 28 September 2021 by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Auction 123, lot 1383, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8563801. The weight noted by the auction house is: ''4.4 grs'', so I noted 4.4? grs not knowing if the coin weighs 4.40 grs or if the second decimal is not noted.

Variant with INP instead of IMP on the reverse and a die link with coins bearing the COMOB mark. 

We have several examples all with the same obverse die with the same die break on the shield. This corner break has not evolved and we also notice another small break under the letter A which is the same size on all copies except one (although photos can sometimes hide reliefs, it seems almost certain that this is not the case here) of which we can only distinguish the beginning. I therefore noted a reverse die with the CONOB mark (the one classified here as AYC #30, obv link, mark link, RIC - and three other reverse dies with the COMOB mark. It is therefore understood that the striking of these two marks was done at the same time or shortly afterward. Having only one die (to our knowledge, pending a possible increase in the number of dies with the CONOB mark associated with this same obverse) with the CONOB mark associated with as many different dies with the other mark, reveals several things. Firstly, the striking of both marks may be due to an error. If this issue clearly shows the same type associated with both marks, we can conclude that the COMOB mark appeared shortly after CONOB. The changes seen in the letter N of COMOB indicate that dies with the CONOB mark have been modified to match the new series. Secondly, the large die break on the shield demonstrates that the die is very worn and close to needing replacement, indicating that these coins were struck over a very short period. Thirdly, the coin with the COMOB mark having a less pronounced die break under the letter A than the other coins, including the one with the CONOB mark, demonstrates that this coin was struck before the one with the CONOB mark. Was a die with the old mark mistakenly reused? It's still possible that this break was filled with metal, but that seems rather unlikely given how clearly the shape remains in relief. I've noted other small details that I'll describe in the individual presentation of each coin, but one important detail remains: the dot in the throne, to the right of Constantinople on some examples. This dot doesn't appear to be a break because it's perfectly clean and round. Its size doesn't correspond to a dot representing the scepter held by the figure.. This is very strange; it may have been an attempt to mark a new series. This obverse die is therefore linked to many oddities, and when one sees the dots in the legend on the obverse, and on the reverse, numbering from 1 to 6 or more, one can wonder how many different series existed. Here are all the coins described above. One example sharing the same obverse die, sold on 23 May 2016 par Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 92, lot 847, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3108261. Another example with a different reverse die and the dot in the throne, coin sold on 23 June 2018 par KATZ Auction, eAuction 14, lot 1620, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6221251, resold on 27 October 2018, eAuction 16, lot 1565, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6228323, then resold again by the same auction house on 23 March 2019, eAuction 20, lot 1143, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6239309. It is unfortunate that we do not know the weight of the coin. The last example is the one without the pronounced break under the letter A in AVG; the coin was sold on 05 June 2018 by CGB.fr, Live Auction Juin 2018 lot 474804, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5149307 (the letter M in COMOB is not modified despite its appearance). See also a transitional type coin from I to II, which also has a mark (spear point?) under the letter A: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-ii-a-441450. These obverse dies with this peculiarity under the letter A all seem to be associated with various peculiarities.

It should also be noted that this die break here under the letter A is at the same level as on other coins where we see what looks like a spearhead, see for example the AYC #21 var 2, RIC 323, link to the sale: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-a-441450-1176. Die break or clumsy engraving that later turns into a break on this example? See also: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-ii-a-441450.

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.