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CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Honorius, Western Roman Emperor (AD 393-423). AV solidus (20mm, 4.43 gm, 6h). Constantinople, 7th officina, ca. AD 395-402. D N HONORI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / CONCORDI-A AVGG, Concordia seated right, holding scepter and Victory on globe, foot on prow; Z//CONOB [Z retrograde]. RIC 8. Depeyrot 55/2. Small scratch in obverse field, otherwise Nearly Extremely Fine/Extremely Fine.The younger son of Theodosius I the Great, Honorius was proclaimed Augustus in AD 393 at the age of nine, making him theoretically co-equal with his father and his older brother Arcadius. Unfortunately, Theodosius fell ill and died in January of AD 395, leaving his young, untried sons in charge of an Empire beset by mounting crises. Honorius was given charge of the western half of the Empire while Arcadius ruled the east. However, neither boy showed any particular spark of intelligence of leadership, and both were dominated by powerful military men. The general Flavius Stilicho served as the effective regent for Honorius, and Stilicho's hatred toward his counterpart in the east soon plunged both halves of the empire into a bitter cold war. Meanwhile, the Visigothic king Alaric, ostensibly a Roman ally, began exploiting the situation by ravaging Thrace and Italy. Stilicho defeated and cornered Alaric twice, but each time let him escape. In AD 405, another huge barbarian horde swept into Italy and threatened Rome. Stilicho managed to surround and destroy this rabble, but to do so he had to pull troops from the Rhine and Danube frontiers, allowing fresh waves of invaders to plunder Roman Germany, Gaul, and Spain. While chaos engulfed the Roman world, Honorius remained holed up in the fortress city of Ravenna, tending his pet chickens. When he did rouse himself to action, it only made things worse, as when he ordered Stilicho's arrest and execution in AD 408. In AD 410, the Visigoths sacked Rome, the first time foreign invaders had entered the city in more than 800 years. Usurpers popped up as the Western Empire fragmented, yet Honorius reined grimly on like the static figurehead of a foundering ship. His longevity as emperor in such tumultuous times, and the loyalty shown him by far more talented men, remain baffling to this day.
Estimate: 1200-1800 USD
Honorius, Western Roman Emperor (AD 393-423). AV solidus (20mm, 4.43 gm, 6h). Constantinople, 7th officina, ca. AD 395-402. D N HONORI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / CONCORDI-A AVGG, Concordia seated right, holding scepter and Victory on globe, foot on prow; Z//CONOB [Z retrograde]. RIC 8. Depeyrot 55/2. Small scratch in obverse field, otherwise Nearly Extremely Fine/Extremely Fine.The younger son of Theodosius I the Great, Honorius was proclaimed Augustus in AD 393 at the age of nine, making him theoretically co-equal with his father and his older brother Arcadius. Unfortunately, Theodosius fell ill and died in January of AD 395, leaving his young, untried sons in charge of an Empire beset by mounting crises. Honorius was given charge of the western half of the Empire while Arcadius ruled the east. However, neither boy showed any particular spark of intelligence of leadership, and both were dominated by powerful military men. The general Flavius Stilicho served as the effective regent for Honorius, and Stilicho's hatred toward his counterpart in the east soon plunged both halves of the empire into a bitter cold war. Meanwhile, the Visigothic king Alaric, ostensibly a Roman ally, began exploiting the situation by ravaging Thrace and Italy. Stilicho defeated and cornered Alaric twice, but each time let him escape. In AD 405, another huge barbarian horde swept into Italy and threatened Rome. Stilicho managed to surround and destroy this rabble, but to do so he had to pull troops from the Rhine and Danube frontiers, allowing fresh waves of invaders to plunder Roman Germany, Gaul, and Spain. While chaos engulfed the Roman world, Honorius remained holed up in the fortress city of Ravenna, tending his pet chickens. When he did rouse himself to action, it only made things worse, as when he ordered Stilicho's arrest and execution in AD 408. In AD 410, the Visigoths sacked Rome, the first time foreign invaders had entered the city in more than 800 years. Usurpers popped up as the Western Empire fragmented, yet Honorius reined grimly on like the static figurehead of a foundering ship. His longevity as emperor in such tumultuous times, and the loyalty shown him by far more talented men, remain baffling to this day.
Estimate: 1200-1800 USD