Theodosius, Roman emperor AD 379-395.
    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 on this page) Type number
linked to the
type page		 Rarity
3 GLORIA ROMANORVM   emp. drags captive          5   C  
4 VICTORIA AVGGG   Victory adv left         12   C
3 VICTORIA AVGGG    Vict adv left (AE3, not AE4)         14   R
3 CONCORDIA AVGGG   Roma std globe left         15   S
3 CONCORDIA AVGGG   Con. std globe right         16   C
3 CONCORDIA AVGGG   Con. std no globe         17

  S
2 REPARATIO REIPVB  emp raises kneeling female         18   C
3 VIRTVS ROMANORVM Roma std l         19  R2
2 GLORIA ROMANORVM  emp on galley         20   C
4 VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX in wreath         24   R
4 VOT / XV / MVLT / XX in wreath         25   R
4 VOT / X / MVLT / XX in wreath         26   C
4 VOT / V / MVLT / X in wreath         28   C
4 VOT / V in wreath         29   S
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
3 GLORIA REIPVBLICE  camp gate (obv bust left)         37   R
4 GLORIA REIPVBLICE  camp gate         38   S
4 SALVS REIPVBLICAE   Victory left drags captive         39   C 
3 SPES REIPVBLICAE  emp l, hd r., foot on captive left         40  R4
2 GLORIA ROMANORVM  emp w. std and globe         41   C
3 GLORIA ROMANORVM  emp on horseback         42   C

Type images below are in numerical order except for very rare types (Types 19 and 40) which are listed together at the end. 
All references to RIC (Roman Imperial Coinage) are to volume IX.  References to "DOC" are to Late Roman Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, by Philip Grierson and Melinda Mays.  
 

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]

Theodosius
18-16 mm. 6:00. 2.49 grams.

RIC Aquileia 45b1

Struck for Valentinian, Valens, Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. This type is very common, except for Arcadius for whom it is scarce.
 

 

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


Theodosius
14 mm. 12:00. 0.97 grams. 
ESIS
RIC Siscia 39b2  ("S" but now common)

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 14: AE3. VICTORIA AVGGG. Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm. 378-383.


[No image for Theodosius. Here is one for Valentinian II:]   

Valentinian II
18-16 mm. 12:30. 2.79 grams.  
SMAQP  
RIC Aquileia 34c1, page 101 "R, 378-383"

Comment: This AE3 type is rare and seldom offered. Do not confuse it with the similar AE4, Type 12, which is very common, especially from the Siscia mint. 

 

Type 15: AE3.  CONCORDIA AVGGG. Globe left. Roma seated front, head left, holding globe left (in her right hand, on the viewer's left), and holding partly-seen reversed spear (in her left hand, on the viewer's right). 378-383. 

Theodosius
18mm. 12:00. 2.29 grams.
RIC Siscia 27d2

This type is often not distinguished properly from Type 16 (globe right) and Type 17 (no globe), which have the same legend and general appearance.

Common for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius. 12 Mints.

 

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.

Theodosius
18 mm. 11:30. 2.90 grams
ANTB

RIC Antioch 47c6

Common for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius. Very rare for Arcadius. From 11 mints.

 

Type 17:  AE3. CONCORDIA AVGGG. No globe. Constantinopolis seated facing, head right, holding scepter, her right foot on prow and her left knee forward.  378-383. Types 15 and 16 are very similar to this type. If there is a globe left, it is Type 15. If there is a globe right, it is Type 16. 

Theodosius

18 mm. 2.53 grams
RIC Antioch 44b, "S" struck 378-383.

Type 17 is a scarce for Theodosius and rare for Gratian.

 

Type 18: AE2.  REPARATIO REIPVB. Emperor raises kneeling female rt., emperor holds Victory on globe in left. 378-388.

Theodosius
23 mm. 1:00. 5.14 grams.
*BSISC

RIC Siscia 26c6

Issued for Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Magnus Maximus. This type is common for each of them. 
 

 

Type 19: is a type of Gratian which is very rare for Theodosius. (See below)

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




Theodosius
23 mm. 6:00. 5.43 grams.
CONA, wreath in field left.
RIC Con 52c3.

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius and common for all three.

 

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

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

Gratian.
14 mm. 5:00. 0.91 grams.
CONB*

RIC Constantinople 64a

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. It is common for Gratian and Valentinian II, but rare for Theodosius and Arcadius.

Variant type 24A:  VOT / X / MVLT / XXX in wreath. 
Theodosius
14-12mm. 12:00. 1.31 grams. 
RIC IX, Antioch 57, "R5."

This type is in RIC only at Antioch and only this issue, recorded as unique. Because it was not issued at other mints, at first I thought this was simply an engraver's error for VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX, but this example has the "X" well-engraved right in the center -- it looks intentional. Cayon T-77 (0). 
 

Type 25: AE4.  VOT / XV / MVLT / XX  in wreath  (large module). 378-383


Theodosius
15 mm. 12:00. 1.21 grams
SMRB
RIC Rome 51d2

Issued for Gratian, Valentinian II, and Theodosius. Common for Gratian and less so for Valentinian II and scarce for Theodosius. 
 

 

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

Theodosius I
13 mm. 1.52 grams
ANB

RIC Antioch 56c

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

 
 

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

Theodosius
17 mm (unusually large). 6:00. 1.39 grams.
(Usually this type is 15 mm)
ASISC•

RIC Siscia 29d3

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 29: AE4. VOT / V in wreath. 383-388.

Theodosius
13 mm. 1.56 grams. 12:00
ANTA  [last "A" unclear]

RIC Antioch --  [unlisted for Theodosius
 cf. RIC Antioch 55 for Arcadius]

Struck for Gratian, Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius. This type is very common for Arcadius, scarce for Theodosius, and rare for Gratian and Valentinian II. 

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

 

Theodosius
24-22 mm. 12:00. 4.59 grams.
CONSB

RIC Constantinople 83b variety (officina B is unlisted for Theodosius. B is usually for Valentinian II). 

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

 

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

Theodosius I, 379-395
AE4. 13 mm. 1.38 grams. Small
VICTORIA AVGGG
Two Victories
RT in exergue, dot in middle of flan

RIC Rome 57c

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius and common for each, but often with a short flan and poor strike which often make it difficult to make out the number of Gs. Any example clearly with one or two Gs is rare.

  
Theodosius
14 mm. 12:30. 1.27 grams.
VICTORIA AVG
TESB

RIC Thessalonica 63b1, page 187, plate X.19


Theodosius
14-13 mm. 12:00. 0.80 grams.
VICTORIA AVGG  (?)
 
RIC IX unlisted with GG, but cf. Thessalonica 63b1, page 187 with one "G".
Plate X.19 is similar, but with only one "G".
This one has 2 G's, and I suppose possibly a third at or below the exergual line
TESB(? The top of a "B" is visible, but not so clear it is certainly a B.)
 
 
 

Type 34: AE3.  VIRTVS AVGGG, only at Thessalonica. Emperor on galley left, holding phoenix on globe, Victory at helm. 384-388.

Theodosius
17 mm. 5:30. 2.15 grams.
TEX in ex. Δ in field left.

RIC Thessalonica 61b

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, and Arcadius and scarce for each.

 

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

37
Theodosius
16 mm. 3.07 grams. 6:00.
TES
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 have been 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.



Theodosius
14 mm. 12:00. 1.62 grams.
RIC Thessalonica 62b2

Struck for Theodosius, Valentinian II, and Arcadius and fairly common for each.

 

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


Theodosius
13 mm. 6:30. 1.24 grams.
mm: SMKΓ

RIC Cyzicus 26b and 30b

Struck for Valentinian II, Theodosius, Arcadius, and Honorius. Very common for each except Honorius, for whom it is very rare in decent condition.

 

Type 40 is extremely rare.  (See below) AE3.  SPES REIPVBLICAE. Emperor standing left, holding standard and globe, spurning captive to left. 388-391  [DOC]   388-393  [RIC]

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



Theodosius
21-20 mm. 5.89 grams
mm: ALEA
RIC Alexandria 21b

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

 

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


Theodosius.
16 mm.  12:30.  2.23 grams.
RIC Cyzicus 29

Struck for Theodosius, Arcadius, and Honorius. It is common for each, but scarce with a full flan. 

 

Types that are very rare for Theodosius.
 

Type 19: AE3. VIRTVS ROMANORVM. Roma seated facing, head left, holding globe and reversed spear. 378-383.
 

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

Gratian  
18 mm. 11:00. 2.35 grams.  
ANTA in exergue.  Θ left, Φ right field.  RIC Antioch 50a

This is a type of Gratian. It is only for Gratian, except for very rare examples for Theodosius and extremely rare examples for Valentinian II. 

 

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


Theodosius
17 mm. 2.08 grams. 6:00.
RE in exergue.

RIC Rome 63b5, plate VIII.112
Their plate coin is in poor condition--not even Fine. This type is R4 in RIC. It is extremely rare. Struck for Theodosius, Valentinian II, and Arcadius. Unlike some other types, this one has not become noticeably more common in recent decades. 

 

This completes the type set of Theodosius AE.
 

Go to the page with links to type sets of other late Roman emperors.

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