Roman emperor Arcadius, 383-408
    His complete AE ancient-coin type set (with photos below).

      This page is part of a larger site: "Guide to Late Roman AE Coin Types" (http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/) 

AE
size		       Description
          linked to the image below

Type number
linked to the
type page

 rarity
3 GLORIA ROMANORVM   emp. drags captive             5   S
4 VICTORIA AVGGG   Victory advancing left            12   C
3 CONCORDIA AVGGG   Con. standing hd right            16  R3
2 GLORIA ROMANORVM  emp on galley            20  R3
4 VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX in wreath            24   R
4 VOT / X / MVLT / XX in wreath            26   C
4 VOT / V / MVLT / X in wreath            28  R4
4 VOT / V in wreath            29   C
2 VIRTVS EXERCITI  emp stg r, foot on captive            31   C
4 VICTORIA AVG(GG)  two Victories facing each other            33   S
3 VIRTVS AVGGG  emp on galley left            34   S
2 GLORIA ROMANORVM (obv w hand of God)            35   C
3 GLORIA REIPVBLICE  camp gate (obv bust left)            37   S
4 GLORIA REIPVBLICE  camp gate            38   S
4 SALVS REIPVBLICAE   Victory l drags captive            39   C
3 SPES REIPVBLICAE  emp l, hd r., foot on captive left            40  R4
2 GLORIA ROMANORVM  emp w. standard and globe            41   C
3 GLORIA ROMANORVM  emp on horseback            42   C
4- VICTORIA AVGG   Victory advancing left            44   C
3 VIRTVS EXERCITI   Victory crowns emp            45   C
4 CONCORDIA AVG(GG)  cross            46   C
3 CONCORDIA AVGG (facing bust)            47   S
3 GLORIA ROMANORVM  3 emps, middle smaller            48   C
3 VRBS ROMA FELIX   Roma standing, head. r            49   R

Type images below are in numerical order except for rare types (Types 20, 28, and 40) which are listed together at the end. 
 

Type 5:  AE3.  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Emperor right drags captive and holds labarum. 364-388   [RIC also lists it in the period 388-392 at Trier]

Arcadius
GLORIA ROMANORVM
AE3. 19 mm. 2.61 grams.
ASISC
RIC IX Siscia 38c1
Sear V 20814

Struck for Valentinian, Valens, Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. The type is extremely common for the earlier emperors, but scarce for Arcadius.

 


 

Type 12:  AE4. VICTORIA AVGGG. Victory advancing left with wreath and palm. 375-395.

Arcadius
VICTORIA AVGGG
AE4. 14 mm. 1.28 grams.
BSIS
RIC Siscia 39d
Sear V 20864

Common for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. Rare, but typical, for Eugenius. Highly unusual for Valens, Gratian, and Honorius.
Common in excellent condition from Siscia for Valentinian II and Theodosius.

 

Type 16:  AE3.  CONCORDIA AVGGG. Globe right. Constantinopolis seated, helmeted head right, holding reversed spear and holding globe right, with her right foot on a tiny prow. 378-383. This type is very similar to Type 15, only that type has head right (of Roma), globe on the viewer's left, and no tiny prow. 


Arcadius
CONCORDIA AVGGG, head and globe on right
18 mm. 2.91 grams.
SMNΔ
RIC Nicomedia 31c "19 Jan. - 25 Aug. 387

This type is common for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius, but rare for Arcadius. 
 

 

Type 20 is rare for Arcadius. See below. AE2.  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Emperor in galley left,

Type 24:  AE4.  VOT XX MVLT XXX (These are vows of Gratian) in wreath. 378-383.

[No image for Arcadius. Here is one for Gratian:]    

Gratian
14 mm. 0.91 grams.
CONB* in exergue

RIC Constantinople 64a.

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius. For Arcadius it is only from Antioch and rare.
 

 

Type 26:  AE4.  VOT / X / MVLT / XX in wreath. 378-388  [RIC]  [DO emphasizes 387]


Arcadius
VOT / X / MVLT / XX
14 mm. 1.19 grams.
ANΔ

RIC Antioch 65c
Sear V 20875

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. It is common for all of them.
 

 

Type 28 is rare for Arcadius. See below.  AE4.  VOT / V / MVLT / X  in wreath


Type 29:  AE4. VOT / V in wreath. 383-388.

Arcadius
VOT / V
14 mm. 0.93 grams.
CONΓ
RIC Constantinople 62bΓ
Sear V 20868

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. 

Next is a possibly unique example from Constantinople with an engraver's error-- VOT X (instead of VOT V):

 
Arcadius
14-13 mm. 0.87 grams.
VOT X
CONΓ

RIC Con --
 
 

Type 31:  AE2.  VIRTVS EXERCITI. Emperor standing right, spurning captive, holding standard and globe. 383-388  [RIC]   386-393  [DOC]


Arcadius
VIRTVS EXERCITI
AE2. 23 mm. 5.87 grams.
Note:  Constantinopolis spells out "Augustus" (which is unusual) and
spells it as "AVGVSIVS".  (The other mints use PF AVG.)
I think it reflects local pronunciation, which was changing.
23 mm. 5.87 grams. 6:00
RIC Constantinople 83c2

Common for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. Extremely rare for Magnus Maximus.


 

Type 33:  AE4.  VICTORIA AVGGG  or VICTORIA AVG [one "G" at Thessalonica only]. Two victories facing each other, each holding a wreath.
383-388.

Arcadius
VICTORIA AVGGG, two Victories
The "GGG" version
14 mm. 1.48 grams.
SMAQP
RIC  Aquileia 47d
Sear V 20858

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius.


Arcadius
VICTORIA AVG
The one "G" version, only at Thessalonica
14 mm. 1.48 grams.
TESΓ
RIC 63
Sear V 20855

 

Type 34:  AE3.  VIRTVS AVGGG. Emperor on galley left, holding phoenix on globe, Victory at helm. 384-388. Struck only at Thessalonica. [Do not confound this AE3 galley type with the AE2 galley GLORIA ROMANORVM type, Type 20.]


Arcadius
VIRTVS AVGGG, galley
AE3. 16 mm. 2.48 grams.
TES
RIC Thessalonica 61c.

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. It is scarce for each of them.


 

Type 35:  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Observe with hand of God. Reverse: Emperor standing with labarum and shield, captive kneeling or seated to left.
383-388. This type, with the Hand of God, is only for Arcadius and common.

Arcadius
GLORIA ROMANORVM
AE2. 20 mm. 4.52 grams.
CONΓ*

RIC Constantinople 53qa
Sear V 20783

 
 

Type 37.  AE3.  GLORIA REIPVBLICE. Camp gate, cross-rho above, TES in exergue. Only at Thessalonica. Obverse with consular bust left.
 [The reverse is the same as type 38, but the flan of this type is larger.] 385  [DO, dated 385 because of the consular bust. p. 108]

 

[No image for Arcadius. Here is one for Theodosius:]

Theodosius. Bust left.
GLORIA REIPVBLICE, camp gate.
17-16 mm. 3.08 grams.

RIC Thessalonica 59b.

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. RIC says "scarce" but I say "rare" and seldom offered. From the very small sample of all the coins of this this type offered over the last 30 years, Theodosius examples seem to be the most available.

 

Type 38:  AE4.  GLORIA REIPVBLICE. Camp gate. 383-388. Only from Thessalonica. The normal obverse (this type) is bust right. [The AE3 variety, Type 37 above, has a consular bust left and is a little larger.]
  

Arcadius
13 mm. 1.46 grams.
Bust right.
GLORIA REIPVBLICE
TES

RIC Thessalonica 62c
Sear V 20842

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. RIC lists it as scarce for each, but it is rarely in nice shape. Valentinian III has a somewhat similar "campgate" reverse type, however cruder and with legend VOT PVB, Type 71.

 

Type 39:  AE4.  SALVS REIPVBLICAE. Victory left drags capitive. 388-403  [RIC]    386-403 [DOC, p. 113]

Arcadius
13 mm. 1.57 grams.
SMHA
RIC Heraclea 26c
Sear V 20846

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, Arcadius, and Honorius. A similar type, but much cruder, is Type 60, struck for Johannes and Theodosius II, which dates to the reign of Johannes, 423-425.

 

Type 40 is extremely rare. See below. AE3.  SPES REIPVBLICAE.

Type 41:  AE2.  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Emperor standing facing, head right, holding standard and globe. 393-395 [DO, because Honorius was elevated Jan. 22 (?), 393]  392-395  [RIC].

Arcadius
GLORIA ROMANORVM
22 mm. 6.11 grams.   xx
SMKA
RIC Cyzicus 27b
Sear V 20795

Struck for Theodosius, Arcadius, and Honorius. It is common for each of them.

 
 

Type 42:  AE3.  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Emperor on horseback right. 393-395 [DO]

Arcadius
GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor on horseback
AE3. 17-15 mm. 1.97 grams.
ANTB
RIC IX Antioch 69e"22 Aug. 392 - 17 Jan. 395"
Sear V 20819

Struck for Theodosius, Arcadius, and Honorius. It is common for each, but not common in nice shape.
 

Type 44:  AE4 (12-13mm).  VICTORIA AVGG  ["GG", not "GGG"]. Victory advancing left with wreath and palm. 395
Struck for Arcadius and Honorius. RIC has it "common" but I think it is rare. It is not easily distinguishable from the very common "GGG" Type 12.

         [no image]
 

Type 45:  AE3.  VIRTVS EXERCITI. Emperor crowned by Victory. 395-401 [RIC, DOC]

Arcadius
VIRTVS EXERCITI
AE3. 19 mm. 2.11 grams.
ANTB
RIC IX --, RIC X 
Sear V 20832

Issued for Arcadius and Honorius. It is common for each of them.

 

Type 46:  AE4.  CONCORDIA AVG(GG). Cross. 404-406 [RIC]   395-408 [DOC]. 

Arcadius
CONCORDIA AVG, cross in wreath
The one "G" variety.
AE4. 11 mm. 0.82 grams.
ALEΔ
RIC X 111 "404-406"

Struck for Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II. The type is common but hard to find with the mintmark clear, and even harder to find with both a clear mintmark and full or nearly full flan. So, any piece as nice as the one above is a "condition rarity."

 

Type 47.  AE3.  CONCORDIA AVGG. Obverse facing bust. Reverse Constantinopolis seated. 401-403  [RIC]  402  [DOC]


Arcadius
Almost facing obverse bust.
CONCORDIA AVGG
AE3. 19 mm. 2.28 grams.
SMKA
RIC X 94 Cyzicus page 248

Struck for Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II. It is scarce in nice condition, but available for each of them.
 

 

Type 48:  AE3.  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Three emperors standing, the middle one (Theodosius II, who was born in 401 and just a small child) smaller. On obverse, star to left of bust. 406-408  [RIC]

Arcadius
GLORIA ROMANORVM, three emperors
AE3. 15 mm. 2.04 grams
SMKA
RIC X 148 Cyzicus
Sear V 20823

Struck for Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II. It is common for each of them.

 
 

Type 49:  AE3.  VRBS ROMA FELIX. Roma standing, holding trophy and Victory. 404-408

Arcadius
VRBS ROMA FELIX
AE3. 16 mm. 1.93 grams
OF   E
SMROM
RIC X 1277 Rome
Sear V 20827


Struck for Arcadius, Honorius, and Theodosius II. Struck only at Rome, with a unique exception. Overall this type is scarce, but almost all examples are very crowded and poorly struck. This example is not very nice, but it is hard to find a better one. A full-flan and well-struck example with little wear would be extremely unusual.
 

Rare types for Arcadius.

Type 20:  AE2.  GLORIA ROMANORVM. Emperor in galley left, Victory at helm. 378-388

[No image for Arcadius. Here is one for Theodosius:]

Theodosius
GLORIA ROMANORVM, galley.
5.49 grams.
RIC IX Heraclea 21b.

Common for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius, and "irregular" [RIC, page 103] for Arcadius. 

 

Type 28:  AE4.  VOT / V / MVLT / X  in wreath. 378-388.

[No image for Arcadius.  Here is one for Theodosius.]  
Theodosius
15  mm. 1.43 grams.
VOT / V / MVLT / X.
RIC Aquileia 36d.

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, Magnus Maximus, and Arcadius.
It is common for Valentinian II and Theodosius, rare for Gratian, and extremely rare for Magnus Maximus and Arcadius.

 

Type 40:  AE3.  SPES REIPVBLICAE. Emperor standing left, holding standard and globe, spurning captive to left. 388-391  [DOC]   388-393  [RIC]

 
[No image for Arcadius. Here is one for Theodosius.]

Theodosius
17 mm. 2.08 grams.
SPES REIPVBLICAE.
RIC Rome 63b.

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. It is extremely rare for each of them.

 

The end of the type set for Arcadius.  


For type sets of other emperors, go to the page with links to type sets for each late Roman emperor. 

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