Solidus of Emperor Arcadius

383 - 408

Obverse: bust, facing to the right, of Emperor Flavius Arcadius (ca. 377-408), emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire from 383 to 408, and 'D[ominus] N[oster] ARCADI/VS P[ius] F[elix] AVG[ustus]'. Reverse: holding in his hand the image of Victory, the emperor tramples the enemy underfoot and, left and right, the letters 'SM', the meaning of which is unclear, 'VICTOR/IA AVGGGH' (the Power of the Emperors to Triumph); the letter H refers to Sirmium's officina or workshop (in Pannonia), Byzantium or Thessalonica. Underneath the mint-mark 'C.OMOB' (= 'Comes Auri Obryzon', or the Official Responsible for Pure Gold). A solidus weighed 4.55 gr or 1/72 pounds. In daily use in the fourth century it was the second most valuable pure gold coin. (Source: The Sterckshof Collection, 2003)

• Places and dates

  Constantinople (Istanbul), 383_? - 408_? (Production)

• Materials

  Gold

• Category

  Coins

• Object number

  M1809