IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type II, B) (441 / 450)
PFAVG 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
Photo of a coin sold on 17 November 2006 by Auktionshaus H.D. Rauch, Auction 79, lot 2554, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=337901, link to their website: https://www.hdrauch.com/site/de/.
Variant with the legend with dots on the obverse and the dot after the letter P placed below the letter instead of being at the top as on the other coins. Type B shield (small and round). The RIC 286 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.
The coin is of type II even though Constantinople displays a height like that seen on type I. This is the only example I have found with a type A shield. The series with dots on the obverse, without dots on the reverse and without mint mark seems to have (type A and B shields combined) only finely made dies showing the style and experience of the usual engravers of Constantinople. No errors or hesitations in the legend (The only exception being AYC #35 c, RIC 285 having INP on the reverse; this may be due to a lack of space forcing the engravers to glue the last bar too close to the last leg). This series does not appear to have been executed with the help of engravers of barbaric origin.
The example no. 286 illustrated plate 11 of RIC X seems to have the CONOB mark, reference: ''Bibliothèque Nationale de France'', I was able to see the example and confirm that the coin bears the COMOB mark.
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.