Roman Coins of Theodosius I

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Theodosius I, 19 January 379 - 17 January 395 A.D.

Theodosius I, also known as Theodosius the Great, was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire. The son of the famed general Count Theodosius, he was made emperor in the east by Gratian after the death of Valens at the disastrous Battle of Hadrianople, at a time when the East was ravaged in every direction by the Goths. He defeated them, but the Goths secured control of Illyricum establishing a homeland south of the Danube within the Empire's borders. Theodosius defeated the usurpers Magnus Maximus and Eugenius. He ending Roman slavery and inaugurated a feudal society, a pivotal transformation in European history. He effectively made Nicene Christianity the official state church and fostered the destruction of some prominent pagan temples including the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, the Serapeum in Alexandria, and the Vestal Virgins in Rome. In 393, he banned the Olympics in Ancient Greece. It was not until the end of the 19th century, in 1896, that the Olympics were held again. After his death, Theodosius' sons Arcadius and Honorius inherited the East and West halves respectively, and the Roman Empire was never again re-united.

Theodosius I, 19 January 379 - 17 January 395 A.D.,

Theodosius I, son of the famed general Count Theodosius, was made Augustus by Gratian after the disastrous battle of Hadrianople. He repulsed a Gothic invasion and destroyed the forces of Magnus Maximus and Eugenius. He reigned 36 years.AS65213. Lead bulla (tag seal), Conical, uniface, with three draped facing busts; commonly attributed to Theodosius I and his sons Arcadius and Honorius, VF, weight 9.335 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, $60.00 (�53.40)

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Victory or Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings, with one of the most famous being the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times. Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Nike was a very close acquaintance of Athena and is thought to have stood in Athena's outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon. Victory or Nike is also one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek and Roman coins.RL84230. Bronze half centenionalis, RIC IX Cyzicus 26(b)2, LRBC II 2577, SRCV V 20561, Cohen VIII 30, Choice VF, well centered and struck, dark patina with buff earthen highlighting, edge cracks, weight 1.315 g, maximum diameter 14.8 mm, die axis 0^o, 2nd officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 28 Aug 388 - 15 May 392 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse SALVS REIPVBLICAE (health of the Republic), Victory walking left, head right, carrying trophy in right hand, dragging captive with left hand, staurogram left, SMKB in exergue; $40.00 (�35.60)

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In 393, Theodosius I outlawed the Olympic Games, ending a thousand years of festivals, as part of the general Christian policy to establish universal Christian worship in accordance with the doctrines set forth in the Nicene Creed.BB77671. Bronze maiorina, RIC IX Constantinopolis 88(a)4, LRBC II 2186, SRCV V 20489, Cohen VIII 18, F, well centered, dark patina, edge split, weight 5.367 g, maximum diameter 21.8 mm, die axis 180^o, 4th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 15 May 392 - 17 Jan 395 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA ROMANORVM (glory of the Romans), emperor standing facing, head right, wearing military attire, vexillum in right hand, globe in left hand, CONS∆ in exergue; $28.00 (�24.92)

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On 19 January 379, Emperor Gratian elevated Flavius Theodosius at Sirmium, giving him the title Augustus with power over all the eastern provinces. Theodosius came to terms with the Visigoths and settled them in the Balkans as military allies (foederati).

RL79895. Bronze maiorina, RIC IX Cyzicus 14(c)3, LRBC II 2550, SRCV V 20482, Cohen VIII 19, VF/F, well centered, rough, bumps and scratches, corrosion, edge cracks, weight 4.442 g, maximum diameter 23.2 mm, die axis 0^o, 3rd officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 19 Jan 379 - 25 Aug 383 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, transverse spear in right hand, shield on left arm; reverse GLORIA ROMANORVM (glory of the Romans), Emperor standing slightly left on galley, head right, wearing helmet and military garb, paludamentum flying behind, raising right hand in salute, Victory seated steering at stern, wreath left, SMKΓ in exergue; $28.00 (�24.92)

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In 393, Theodosius I outlawed the Olympic Games, ending a thousand years of festivals, as part of the general Christian policy to establish universal Christian worship in accordance with the doctrines set forth in the Nicene Creed.BB83749. Bronze maiorina, RIC IX Heraclea 27(a)4, LRBC II 1989, SRCV V 20488, Cohen VIII 18, aVF, slightly irregular flan, weight 4.024 g, maximum diameter 22.9 mm, die axis 0^o, 2nd officina, Heraclea (Marmara Ereglisi, Turkey) mint, 15 May 392 - 17 Jan 395 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA ROMANORVM (glory of the Romans), Emperor standing facing, head right, wearing military attire, vexillum in right hand, globe in left hand, star lower right, SMHB in exergue; $26.00 (�23.14)

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In 390, the population of Thessalonica rioted against the presence of a Gothic garrison. The garrison commander was killed. In retaliation, Theodosius ordered the Goths to kill all the spectators in the circus. Theodoret, a witness, reports: "...the anger of the Emperor rose to the highest pitch, and he gratified his vindictive desire for vengeance by unsheathing the sword most unjustly and tyrannically against all, slaying the innocent and guilty alike. It is said seven thousand perished without any forms of law, and without even having judicial sentence passed upon them; but that, like ears of wheat in the time of harvest, they were alike cut down." Theodosius was excommunicated by the bishop of Milan, Saint Ambrose for the massacre. Ambrose told Theodosius to imitate David in his repentance as he had imitated him in guilt. Ambrose readmitted the emperor to the Eucharist only after several months of penance.BB83835. Bronze half centenionalis, RIC IX Thessalonica 62(b) (S), LRBC II 1859, SRCV V 20553, Cohen VIII 16, VF, nice green patina, weight 1.640 g, maximum diameter 13.1 mm, die axis 105^o, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, fall 384 - Aug 388 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA REIPVLICE, campgate with two towers, TES in exergue; scarce; $25.00 (�22.25)

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Treaties with the Goths, signed 3 October 382, permitted large contingents of barbarians, primarily Thervingian Goths, to settle south of the Danube frontier and largely govern themselves. The treaties included military obligations which required the Goths to fight for the Romans as a national contingent, as opposed to being fully integrated into the Roman forces. However, many Goths would serve in Roman legions and others, as foederati, for a single campaign. Bands of Goths switching loyalties became a destabilizing factor in the internal struggles for control of the Empire.RL77780. Bronze centenionalis, RIC IX Constantinopolis 57(d)3, LRBC II 2128, SRCV V 20531, Cohen VIII 5, VF, dark green patina, tight flan, earthen encrustations, light scratches, weight 1.972 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 0^o, 2nd officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 19 Jan 379 - 9 Aug 383 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CONCORDIA AVGGG� (harmony among the three emperors), Constantinopolis seated facing on throne, helmeted head right, scepter in right hand, globe in left hand, right leg bare, right foot on prow, o left, CONSB in exergue; $24.00 (�21.36)

Victory or Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings, with one of the most famous being the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Most other winged deities in the Greek pantheon had shed their wings by Classical times. Nike is the goddess of strength, speed, and victory. Nike was a very close acquaintance of Athena and is thought to have stood in Athena's outstretched hand in the statue of Athena located in the Parthenon. Victory or Nike is also one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek and Roman coins.BB83896. Bronze half centenionalis, RIC IX Roma 57(c)6-10 (S), LRBC II 1092, SRCV V 20572, Cohen VIII 43, F, tight flan cutting off parts of legends, light marks, weight 1.129 g, maximum diameter 11.5 mm, die axis 0^o, Rome mint, 25 Aug 383 - 28 Aug 388 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG (victory of the three emperors), two Victories standing confronted facing each other, each holding wreath and palm, two pellets arranged vertically between Victories, R[...] in exergue; scarce; $24.00 (�21.36)

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REFERENCES

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Depeyrot, G. Les monnaies d'or de Constantin II � Zenon (337-491). Moneta 5. (Wetteren, 1996).
Hahn, Wolfgang. Moneta Imperii Romani-Byzantinii. (Vienna, 1989).
King, C.E. & D.R. Sear. Roman Silver Coins, Volume V, Carausius to Romulus Augustus. (London, 1987).
Paolucci, R. & A. Zub. La monetazione di Aquileia Romana. (Padova, 2000).
Pearce, J.W.E. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume IX, Valentinian I - Theodosius I. (London 1933).
Robinson, A. Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet, University of Glasgow, Vol. V. Diocletian (Reform) to Zeno. (Oxford, 1982).
Sear, D.R. Roman Coins and Their Values, Vol. V: The Christian Empire...Constantine II to Zeno, AD 337 - 491. (London, 2014).
Vagi, D. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire. (Sidney, 1999).

Catalog current as of Monday, June 26, 2017.
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