Lot 3444
Galla Placidia, mother of Valentinian III, AD 425-455. Gold Solidus (4.45 g) minted at Constantinople, c. AD 441-450. Pearl-diademed and draped bust right of Galla Placidia; above, Hand of God holding crown. Reverse: Constantinopolis enthroned left, holding cross on globe and scepter; star in left field. RIC Vol. X, 305 [as R4]; cf. C. 2.We note burnishing in the fields, nonetheless, a very pleasing example of this very rare issue. Sharpness of Extremely Fine.
Remember how confusing we found the intermarriages and intimacies of the early empresses of the AD 1st century, like Antonia, Julia Titi, Domitia, etc.? The early to middle AD 5th century has great complexities also. Do we think more of Galla Placidia as half-sister of Honorius and Arcadius, as wife of one of the kingpins of the sack of Rome, as wife of the then current general Constantius, as daughter of Theodosius I, as mother of the youthful Valentinian III? What a tangled family tree! This cataloguer will try his best to keep her activities straight and use the RIC (Volume X) Theodosius II headings as a guide.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
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| Realized $6,325 |
