Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 121 6-8 Oct 2022
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Aelia Eudocia. Augusta, AD 423-460. AV Tremissis (15mm, 1.49 g, 12h). Constantinople mint. Struck under Theodosius II, circa AD 430-440. Pearl-diademed and draped bust right / Cross within wreath (ties 7) with central medallion; CONOB*. RIC X 252; Depeyrot 72/2; Biaggi 2359. Lustrous, light marks, thing reverse die break. EF.
From the Conti Collection. Ex William Subjack Collection (Part III, Vecchi 14, 5 February 1999), lot 1325.
Aelia Eudocia started life as Athenais, born in Antioch to a prominent Pagan professor of rhetoric. Raised on the classics, she blossomed into a beautiful young woman who was an accomplished poet and orator. When her father died and her brothers cut her out of any inheritance, she traveled to Constantinople in AD 420 to seek redress from the emperor Theodosius II. But the scholarly young emperor was in the market for a wife and he was immediately smitten with Athenais. His sister, the devout Pulcheria, insisted that she convert to Christianity before any marriage, terms she readily accepted, taking the name Eudocia. The new Empress quickly became an advocate for universal education and tolerance, particularly toward Jews and other persecuted sects. She also sought to blend Classical Hellenism and Christianity. This placed her at odds with Pulcheria, who began to denigrate the sincerity of her conversion. To prove her devotion, Eudocia made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in AD 438, but soon after returning she was accused of adultery and banished from the court. Theodosius still loved her, however, and the terms were not severe. She was able to retire to Jerusalem where she continued her writing and charitable work until her death in AD 460.
From the Conti Collection. Ex William Subjack Collection (Part III, Vecchi 14, 5 February 1999), lot 1325.
Aelia Eudocia started life as Athenais, born in Antioch to a prominent Pagan professor of rhetoric. Raised on the classics, she blossomed into a beautiful young woman who was an accomplished poet and orator. When her father died and her brothers cut her out of any inheritance, she traveled to Constantinople in AD 420 to seek redress from the emperor Theodosius II. But the scholarly young emperor was in the market for a wife and he was immediately smitten with Athenais. His sister, the devout Pulcheria, insisted that she convert to Christianity before any marriage, terms she readily accepted, taking the name Eudocia. The new Empress quickly became an advocate for universal education and tolerance, particularly toward Jews and other persecuted sects. She also sought to blend Classical Hellenism and Christianity. This placed her at odds with Pulcheria, who began to denigrate the sincerity of her conversion. To prove her devotion, Eudocia made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in AD 438, but soon after returning she was accused of adultery and banished from the court. Theodosius still loved her, however, and the terms were not severe. She was able to retire to Jerusalem where she continued her writing and charitable work until her death in AD 460.