A Honorius with very small bust

[Arinda D]

Dear coin lovers, have you ever come across such a coin from Honorius, with such a small head?
Assume the caption is SALVS REIPVBLICAE.

Size 13mm
Weight 0.98 grams

[Curtis JJ]

Definitely on the small side, and a cute little coin, but I think it's within the normal range. As an enthusiast of late Roman "captives coinage" I've always enjoyed this type.

Warren Esty has a few small-headed Arcadius on his page for Type 39 reverses (Arcadius & Honorius page, 3rd & 7th examples):
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/type39Ai.html

Here's the most diminutive Arcadius bust I've photographed in my collection:



Theodosius & Valentinian generally seemed to have slightly larger busts on those than Arcadius and Honorius.

Again, Esty's Theos: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/type39Ti.html
And his Valentinians: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/type39V2i.html

Here's a larger-style bust on a Theodosius I from my collection:

[SC]

The small busts are not surprising.  The type begun to be struck in 388.  While Honorius may not have appeared on the coinage until possibly as late as 393 he was only born in September 384 so would have turned 9 in 393.

SC