Roman Empire AV Solidus 402-450 AD THEODOSIUS II, 402-450 - Constantinopolis vf/xf

weight 4,46gr. | gold Ø 21mm.
3 dots interpunction on obverse, 5 dots interpuntion on reverse

obv. Bust of Theodosius, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front,
holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman
on left arm, surrounded by the legend DN THEODOSI - VS˙P˙F˙AVG
rev. Constantinopolis seated left, holding cross on globe en sceptre, 
shield on right side, star in left field, surrounded by the legend  
IMP. XXXXII˙ COS XVII˙P˙P˙, in exergue COMOB

The curious use of a dated form of reverse legend, not seen on the Roman coinage since Constantinian times, has been explained as commemorating various noteworthy events, such as Christ′s birth in the forty-first or forty-second year of Augustus, the length of Theodosius′ reign being the longest recorded in Roman history, or that Theodosius was the forty-second in the numbered sequence of emperors (cf. Kent, RIC X, page 80). However, none of these seems to be especially convincing so the question has to be considered unresolved.

In the city of Constantinople two mints were active at different locations the Moneta Publica and the Moneta Comitatensis (′Court Mint′), a technical division of the palatine office of the Comes Sacrarum Largitionum or Master of the Sacred Disbursements (i.e. Imperial Treasurer). The letters OB are an abbreviation for obryzum (= refined gold). The use of the mint mark COM OB instead of the more usual CON OB perhaps indicates that the Comitatensian, or ′court′ mint, in Constantinople was employed for the production of much of this extensive coinage.

RIC 301 (R2) | Depeyrot page 255, 84/1 | Sear 21140 RR
Minor graffiti on the obverse and struck with some light weaknesses.
Very rare.
vf/xf

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