SALVS REIPVBLICAE

Bust of Galla Placidia to the right, draped with Chi-Rho (1) on right shoulder, wearing a diadem of pearls, a double necklace of pearls and long earrings. Above, the hand of God crowning her.

An angel seated left on cuirass and inscribing a Chi-Rho on a shield.

Photo of a coin sold the 08/01/2019 by The New York Sale, Auction 45, lot 297, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5574035, link to their website: http://dev.thenewyorksale.com/.

I noticed a detail in this mint on Solidi type SALVS REIPVBLICAE and VOT XX MVLT XXX. The Chi-Rho on the right shoulder is either: I X with a loop surmounting the letter, I noted Chi-Rho (1) (the one on this coin). Or: I X as we see on the AYC #8 var, RIC 1333 noted Chi-Rho (2). We can consider that this small loop may have been forgotten. But we can also imagine that the engraver wanted to mark his faith in this way. Indeed I X is the first Chi-Rho symbolizing ''Iêsous Christos''. And the addition of the loop or letter P is the Constantine form. For the SALVS REIPVBLICAE type, i saw two coins with the first chrism. The dies used are different but the two coins display a Constantinian Chi-Rho on the shield. I believe that one of these coins is an imitation, because of its style. The lettering is awkward, the pearl necklace is superimposed on the drapery and goes up to the ears. Its authenticity also remains to be confirmed. Link to this coin sold by Emporium Hamburg: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=3747924.

All Solidi of all types and in all mints (except the one in Constantinople) always display a double pearl necklace. Except for AYC # 7 (see comment). This little detail may make the difference with the smaller denominations.

A ribbon emerges from the two letters G on the obverse. Common thing with the mints of this region for this period. It seems that all solidi of all types have at least one prominent ribbon.

On the reverse I noted ''Angel'' in the description. We can also say that this is Victoria but the image of the victory at that time had indeed become that of an angel symbolizing the Christian victory. I note that this character is probably also a representation of the Empress in the guise of the angel. Indeed, the character often wears the same double pearl diadem and the clothes are decorated like those of Galla Placidia. I have noticed many times that on the coinage of various Empresses the character on the reverse is depicted as the Empress.