IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P (type I, A) (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 the 09/12/2013 by Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 157, lot 372, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1804222, link to their website: https://www.numislanz.de/. Sold the 07/12/2016 by Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 163, lot 488. Another copy with the same dies, sold the 26/05/2020 by Fritz Rudolf Künker, eLive Auction 60, lot 6321, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7012000, link to their wbsite: https://www.kuenker.de/en. 

Type I: with mark CONOB and the reverse legend usually ending before the shield with a square throne, the right leg as a triangular protuberance, stiff drapery and vertical scepter. This corresponds to type III of RIC X. Var A is the same as RIC X: elongated and long shield.

This AYC #21 ger, RIC 323 is classified alone because it is a magnificent example of the real composition of the Constantinople mint and the difficulties linked to a probable relocation of part of the workforce to a comitatus mint. The copy of Numismatik lanz München is with a weight of 4.52 grs! And the one of Fritz Rudolf Künker using the same dies made 4.49 grs being used. What is disturbing is the associated style and especially the lettering which is typical of a Germanic imitation (hence the ''ger'' in the reference). That being said, the style is still good and close to that of Constantinople. The lettering is quite hesitant, the letter D of DN is mixed with the hand, the S are in the shape of a inverted Z and the word IMP on the reverse is written next to the mint mark while being distorted. However, the rest of the legends are well inscribed. The weight cannot justify a fraudulent imitation because it is above the standard of 4.45 grams. We notice that other ''normal'' examples sometimes have a weight slightly above the norm: 4.47 grams, 4.49 grams.. In my opinion the mint or two mints (that of Constantinople and the comitatus) faced a chaotic management where people of barbarian origin were given the management of an officina and/or had problems with quality control and weights following an event (approach of the huns and tributes paid? Stolen treasures?) which created a hurry.

See AYC #21, RIC 323: https://www.all-your-coins.com/en/archives-anciennes/romaines-imperiales/imp-xxxxii-cos-xvii-p-p-type-i-a-441-450, for the commentary explaining the entire coinage.