The New York Sale
Auction LI 12 Jan 2021
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Aelia Pulcheria. Gold Solidus (4.26 g), Augusta, AD 414-453. Constantinople, under Marcian, AD 450-457. AEL PVLCH-ERIA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Pulcheria right; above, manus Dei crowning her with wreath. Reverse: VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; in right field, star; CONOB. RIC 512; Depeyrot 87/3. NGC grade XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5. Bent, plugged. Estimated Value $750
Aelia Pulcheria was the daughter of Arcadius and older sister of Theodosius II. When their father died in AD 408 and the young Theodosius II became the new emperor of the embattled eastern half of the Roman Empire, Pulcheria assumed the role of her brother's protector. When the Senate voted her the title of Augusta (Empress) in AD 414, she used this newfound legitimacy to take over the regency for Theodosius II, which had been managed previously by the praetorian prefects. Pulcheria aimed at being the real power in the Empire and declared her intention to remain a virgin and never marry as a means of avoiding male control. In contrast, her brother was easily dominated, and Pulcheria taught him to be an emperor in keeping with her own image of the office. Under her guidance, Theodosius II successfully warred against the Sasanian Persians in AD 421 and intervened in the Western Roman Empire, placing their nephew, Valentinian III, on the throne in AD 425. Pulcheria even engineered the disgrace and exile of Theodosius' wife, Aelia Eudocia, to remove her competing influence over the emperor. When Theodosius II died unexpectedly in a riding accident in AD 450, Pulcheria took power in her own right. However, her sole reign was very brief as she was finally forced to take the lowborn Marcian as her husband. She died three years later, still Augusta and still a virgin.
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
Aelia Pulcheria was the daughter of Arcadius and older sister of Theodosius II. When their father died in AD 408 and the young Theodosius II became the new emperor of the embattled eastern half of the Roman Empire, Pulcheria assumed the role of her brother's protector. When the Senate voted her the title of Augusta (Empress) in AD 414, she used this newfound legitimacy to take over the regency for Theodosius II, which had been managed previously by the praetorian prefects. Pulcheria aimed at being the real power in the Empire and declared her intention to remain a virgin and never marry as a means of avoiding male control. In contrast, her brother was easily dominated, and Pulcheria taught him to be an emperor in keeping with her own image of the office. Under her guidance, Theodosius II successfully warred against the Sasanian Persians in AD 421 and intervened in the Western Roman Empire, placing their nephew, Valentinian III, on the throne in AD 425. Pulcheria even engineered the disgrace and exile of Theodosius' wife, Aelia Eudocia, to remove her competing influence over the emperor. When Theodosius II died unexpectedly in a riding accident in AD 450, Pulcheria took power in her own right. However, her sole reign was very brief as she was finally forced to take the lowborn Marcian as her husband. She died three years later, still Augusta and still a virgin.
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.