Victory Over the Barbarians

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 804. Estimate $75000.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $55000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Theodosius I. AD 379-395. AR Medallion (34mm, 12.92 g, 6h). Rome mint, 3rd officina. Struck AD 383-392. D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / TRIVMFATOR GENT BARB, Theodosius, in military attire, standing right, head left, holding labarum in right hand, globe in left; to left, barbarian captive kneeling facing, head right; R T. Gnecchi 7; RIC IX 52a; RSC 34†; Grueber -; Froehner -; Tocci 127 (same dies); Dressel -; Toynbee pl. XXXIII, 8 (same obv. die); Cohen 34. EF, gray toning with golden hues around the devices, a few light marks under tone, minor lamination on reverse. Extremely rare, and in far better condition than the only two examples previously recorded (both in museum collections [Vienna and the Vatican]).

This extraordinary silver medallion type was struck for the emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius I, and Arcadius. While RIC places the issue of Valentinian at an earlier date, the unique character of these medallions strongly suggests they were all struck at one time, presumably for a single significant event. Also, as this was an issue of the Rome mint, it makes little sense that Valentinian would have such an issue without Gratian also being represented. RIC's dating of Valentinian's issue to AD 378-383 must be in error. As Arcadius was not elevated until AD 383, the issue of these medallions must be placed after this date, and prior to the death of Valentinian in AD 392. During this period, a number of events could have precipitated such an issue. The traditional "barbarian" foe would have been the European tribes that had been at war with the Romans, so the Roman victories in the East during this period are unlikely candidates. The fact that these European victories were minor, along with the fact that there were no issues of this type at eastern mints, also suggests the European victories were commemorated by the medallions. While the Balkans had seen many recent conflicts against the various tribes, the last significant campaign had been concluded in AD 382, with a settlement that allowed many of the tribes, particularly the Visigoths and Huns, to settle in Roman territory and become foederati. While the medallions could have been a propaganda piece asserting a great triumph, this is not likely, as the type was only used at Rome, and the less-than-triumphant settlement would have been too obvious for the propaganda to have effect, particularly as a captive is displayed. Pending further research, the reference of these impressive medallions remains uncertain.

The two recorded examples of this medallion are both in museum collections. The first, in Vienna (Toynbee’s plate coin), is heavily worn and broken, with about 1/5 of the coin missing. The other, in the Vatican (cataloged by Tocci), is also heavily worn, with most of the legends missing, and holed in two places.