Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople (or uncertain eastern) mint, 5th officina. Struck AD 402-408. Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 878. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 1 700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople (or uncertain eastern) mint, 5th officina. Struck AD 402-408. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Arcadius standing right, foot spurning captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe left; S|M/Є//COMOB. RIC IX 14b.3 (Sirmium); Depeyrot 34/1 (Sirmium); Biaggi –. Toned. Near EF.

The attribution of the mint for this series of solidi has been the matter of some scholarly debate. J.W.E. Pearce likely dates the issue correctly in RIC IX, however, he somewhat controversially identifies the mint as Sirmium. While this may seem reasonable given the S M across the field (which is found on many earlier issues of that mint), there are significant issues with claiming that this series (known also for Theodosius I and Honorius) belongs to the Sirmium mint. Ulrich-Bansa suggested that the S M on this issue refers not to Sirmium but to Sacra Moneta and that the coinage was a product of either Constantinople or Thessalonica (or a combination of the two). This attribution was followed by Grierson and Mays in DOCLR (1992) and later by Kent in RIC X. Kent explains that: “The attribution to Sirmium ... is difficult to accept historically... since the eastern court was certainly at Constantinople during most of the period of issue, it is simpler to recognize it as a coinage of that city ... The possibility that the palatine moneyers were out-stationed for at least part of the time should however be retained” (Kent, 1994, p. 36).

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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