CNG 108, Lot: 688. Estimate $1500. Sold for $2010. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.42 g, 12h). Thessalonica mint. Struck circa AD 408(?). D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield; on shield, Victory to left, holding wreath, between two kneeling captives / CONCORDI-A AVGGG, Constantinopolis seated facing, head right, with foot on prow, holding scepter and Victory on globe; *//TESOB. RIC IX –; Depeyrot –. Good VF, small nick at edge. Apparently unrecorded.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 78 (26 May 2014), lot 1232 (hammer 3,250 CHF).

The presence of AVGGG rather than AVGG on the reverse places this coin between AD 402 and 408, during the reign of Honorius, Arcadius, and Theodosius, but it must certainly date to the waning days of Arcadius’ reign, immediately preceding or contemporary with the similar “TESOB” coinage of Theodosius II and Honorius, which also features Victory and kneeling figure(s) as a shield design (see D. M. Metcalf, “Minting at Thessalonica in the fifth and sixth centuries and the gold currency of Illyricum and Dalmatia,” SEBGC [1988], nos. 1-2 and 19-20; our coin is certainly by the same hand as Metcalf no. 19 [= Glendining, 25 November 1953, lot 206]). Following Metcalf’s chronology, this series of coins was then replaced with issues with the reverse legend ending AVGG, thus following the death of Arcadius in May AD 408, and with two subsequent shield designs: 1) Victory standing left on prow; and 2) horseman riding right.