VOT XX MVLT XXX

Bust of Galla Placidia to the right, draped with latin cross on right shoulder, wearing a diadem of pearls, a necklace of pearls and long earrings. Above, the hand of God crowning her.

An angel standing left and holding a long Latin cross adorned with jewels. A star above the angel.

Photo of a coin sold the 24/11/2006 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 34, lot 219, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=338231, link to their website: https://www.arsclassicacoins.com/.

This coin shares the same obverse die as the example illustrated in the RIC X plate 8. I have so far seen only one obverse dier associated with two different reverse dies (for this type without officina letter.

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.

The weight is quite low, only 4.32 grs but the coin being worn, this can explain the weight loss. However I have noticed that this type tends to show a few lower weights than usual. See comment on AYC # 4 (1) also falling into this low weight category. The commentary is provided in more details than this one.

It seems that when no officina letter is inscribed on the reverse, the bust of the Empress still shows a Latin cross on the right shoulder. The coins with an officina letter on the reverse seem to show a bust without a cross on the shoulder. I noticed these peculiarities by analyzing many copies but not yet all the sales and coins in museums. Which therefore does not exclude the possibility of seeing a variant. At the stage of my study, I noted:

For the type without officina letter:

• 1 obverse die and 2 reverse dies.

For the type with officina letter:

• 2 obverse dies and 3 reverse dies.

Unlike other mints, the pearl necklace never seems double. I also notice that this type, whether without or with an officina mark, always shows a Latin cross on the reverse with a dot on each side at the base. As well as a dot located above, at the end of the horizontal part of the cross on the left with another dot positioned in the same way at the other end of the cross. AYC #4 (1) better illustrates these dots. This detail seems unique to the Constantinople mint.