IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type III / II, B, 2 dots on reverse) (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.

IMPXXXXII COS – XVII PP

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 23 September 2021 by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 368, lot 3550, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8539794. The auction house notes a source: ''Old St-vzAus Münchner Sammlung vor 1997'' to confirm. Already sold on 08 May 2019 by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 348, lot 1009, then on 12 February 2020, Auction 355, lot 2353 and on 24 September 2020, Auction 361, lot 2560.

Variant without a dot on the obverse and two dots on the reverse located after the P of IMP and the first P of P P. COMOB mark. Reverse of type III (legend with dots) and design of type II, shield of type B. 

Le RIC X reference a coin for its numero 320 with this officina S: sale Rodolfo Ratto, 09 September 1930, lot 155. This coin shares the same reverse die as the specimen classified here. This therefore rules out the specimen listed in RIC X which notes dots after XVII and the first Pof P P since we can clearly see an unmistakable dot before IMP. The dot after XVII could have been a stain, but the copy classified AYC #41 b, RIC 319 and sold on 14 November 2016 by Macho & Chlapovic, Auction 11, lot 29, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3459503, shares the same reverse die as this specimen and clearly shows three dots. This reference in RIC X therefore does not exist. Note also another sale of the coin illustrating this AYC #39 var, a, RIC -, by Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger and also clearly showing three dots; coin sold on 14 November 2016 by Macho & Chlapovic, Auction 11, lot 30, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3459504. This same obverse die is, in fact, the one I illustrate in the commentary of the AYC #30 var 2, RIC - as it appears on several coins, and the design was re-engraved on some specimens (modern re-engraving). See here: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-ii-b-441450-1169. See also AYC #41 b, obv link, RIC 319: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-iii-ii-b-3-points-au-revers-441450-1238, which lists the specimen sharing this obverse die but featuring a different reverse die from another series with dots.

The ranking follows the positional order of the dots on the reverse (before the first or second... abbreviation or date), This is the reason why this coin is classified first ahead of coins without officina letters, which are themselves grouped among other coins with officina letters. Each difference in the position of the dots is classified as "var" if the same "var" exists with two different officina letters, So the first one will be classified as "var" and the second coin as "var, a" with the small "a" indicating the next officina letter. Thus we have, for example, the AYC #39 var with the officina  and the AYC #39 var, a with the officina S, the two numbers having exactly the same dots positions in the legend.

On many coins (regardless of the number of dots), there is a sort of dark dot located between the two Ps or after the last one (like on this coin referenced here). If one of the dots is unmistakably present after one of the Ps, the other letter often shows another dark dot. Is it a case of a clogged die revealing a tiny remnant that looks like a sort of smudge due to the lighting in the photo? This also applies to other spots in front of other letters (though this is less common). It could just as well be a matter of micro-cracks in the die like those seen on the obverse but the location of these small details on the reverse is peculiar, as they are situated between the letters.

Type III: with the mark CONOB or COMOB (CONOB here). Legend punctuation on the reverse. This corresponds to type II of RIC X. Variant A and B are the same as RIC X: A = large, B = smaller, rounder shield. This type blends characteristics of types I and II in terms of design and the position of the legend relative to the shield: Constantinople large or small, helmet flat or not, drapery tight or not natural, legend ending before or at the level of the shield. The likely reuse of old reverse dies (there are already links between obverse dies and coins without reverse dots) consequently mixes the first two types. This mixing of the two types may also demonstrate the high probability that this series with dots on reverse is the last. For each Type III coin, I add the reverse design type after ''/'', thus giving either: ''III / I'' or ''III / II'', designating a Type III reverse with a Type I or II design followed by shield type A or B.