Arcadius, Gold Solidus, Mediolanum (Milan), 395-402 AD

Arcadius (383-408 AD), gold Solidus, Mediolanum (Milan) mint, struck 395-402 AD, D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, rev. VICTORI A AVGGG, Arcadius standing right, foot on captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe; M-D//COMOB, 4.45g, 6h (RIC IX 35b = RIC X 1205; Depeyrot 16/1). Good Extremely fine and lustrous.

Found in St Albans Hertfordshire in 1994.

This gold solidus of Arcadius is a fine example of late Roman imperial coinage, struck at Mediolanum (modern Milan) between 395 and 402 AD. The solidus was the principal gold denomination of the later Roman Empire, introduced by Constantine the Great in the early fourth century and valued for its consistent weight and purity. It played a vital role in imperial finance, military payments and long-distance trade.

The obverse bears the emperor facing right, wearing a pearl diadem, draped garments and cuirass, combining symbols of imperial authority with the military strength expected of a Roman ruler.

Arcadius was the elder son of Theodosius I and became Augustus in 383 AD. Following his father's death in 395 AD, he ruled the Eastern Roman Empire, while his younger brother Honorius governed the West. Although nominally sovereign, Arcadius was heavily influenced by powerful court officials and competing political factions, including the praetorian prefect Rufinus and the influential eunuch Eutropius. His reign was marked by tensions with the Western court and conflicts over the influence of Germanic military leaders within the empire.

The reverse depicts Arcadius standing with one foot upon a captive, holding a military standard, or labarum, and a Victory figure standing on a globe. The legend VICTORI A AVGGG celebrates the victory of the emperors, while the mintmark M-D identifies Mediolanum and COMOB denotes the imperial gold minting authority and the coin's recognised standard of purity.

The obverse inscription D N ARCADI-VS P F AVG translates to "Our Lord Arcadius, the Pious and Blessed Augustus."

The reverse inscription translates to "The Victory of the three Emperors."