Another pick up from the lot I purchased last week. Emperor Arcadius. My first Eastern Roman Emperor. I got this little coin for a song...and $10. Well OK, only ten bucks. Still can't believe how inexpensive this ancient coin hobby can be. Arcadius (Latin: Flavius Arcadius Augustus; Greek: Ἀρκάδιος; 377/378 – 1 May 408) was Eastern Roman Emperor from 395 to 408. He was the eldest son of Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of the Western Emperor Honorius. A weak ruler, his reign was dominated by a series of powerful ministers, most notably Rufinus the Goth, then Eutropius the eunuch and also by his wife, Aelia Eudoxia. His father declared him an Augustus and co-ruler for the Eastern half of the Empire in January 383. His younger brother Honorius was also declared Augustus in 393, for the Western half. Wikipedia cut and paste history. Arcadius; AD 395-408 AE4. Cyzicus Mint SMKB, 11mm/2.6g OBV: D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right REV: VIRTVS-EXERCITI, emperor standing left, head right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield. Victory, standing beside him, crowns him with a wreath held in her right hand. (RIC X 66B) Post your Eastern Roman Emperors!
Cool addition, heres mine. Arcadius (383 - 408 A.D.) AE2 O: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed draped and cuirassed bust right. R: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor standing facing, head right, standard in right, globe in left, ANTB in exergue;. Antioch Mint 4.8g 21.1mm RIC IX 68(c), LRBC 2912
Gorgeous coins, fellas ... *rats* ... I don't have an example to post => again, your new colt is very gorgeous, Bannon (atta-boy) ... sweet eye-appeal!! Keep-up the absolute awesomeness, my friend!!
I don't think I've ever heard of the guy. I'm guessing the price was because of the harsh cleaning... Oh well. Cool beans.
Nice coins VK. Your second one has a decidedly Byzantine look to it. I know the Eastern Roman Empire essentially became the Byzantine Empire. But for numismatic purposes, is there a date or Emperor that serves as a de-markation line between Eastern Roman and Byzantine coins?
Never mind. I answered my own question. That is if Wikipedia is to be believed: The start of what is viewed as Byzantine currency by numismatics began with the monetary reform of Anastasius in 498, who reformed the late Roman Empire coinage system which consisted of the gold solidus and the bronze nummi. The nummus was an extremely small bronze coin, at about 8–10 mm, weight of 0.56 making it at 276 to the Roman pound[3] which was inconvenient because a large number of them were required even for small transactions.
nice LRB....i recently posted my first ancient, and alexandrian arcadius. so here's an alexandrian valens. not the best, but not bad...and better than my crappy pictures. this one was from an uncleaned lot...a rare success. here it was before cleaning.. here's a zeno monogram coin....nothing to see on the obverse really.
Right now I only have one Arcadius coin. Arcadius AE 4. 383-408 AD, Constantinopolis, 1.4g, 13mm OBV: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right. REV: VOT V in wreath. CON(?) in ex. REF: RIC IX 62
The Eastern Roman Empire was always the Byzantine Empire, according to modern thought, but during the empire's 1100+ year existence it was never, nor its inhabitants and institutions, at all referred to as "Byzantine", but continued to be called "Roman". The name "Byzantine Empire" was come up with in the 16th century to label the Roman Empire during its medieval phase, to distinguish it from itself as it was during the ancient era. If you questioned a native inhabitant of Constantinople from any time between the 4th century AD to 1453 AD, they would tell you that they are Roman, that their ruler is the Roman emperor, and that their empire is that of the Romans.
Wikipedia is right with this bit of information. However, I personally go a bit earlier and use 491 AD as the start of Byzantine coinage, since Sear Byzantine (SB) starts with Anastasius and includes his pre-reform nummi (Anastasius became emperor in 491 AD). But I do see 498 as the beginning of truly "Byzantine-style" coinage.
