GALLA PLACIDIA GOLD SOLIDUS – RAVENNA AD 421-450 ISSUE WITH VICTORY HOLDING CROSS – CHOICE XF NGC GRADED ROMAN IMPERIAL COIN OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE (Inv. 18244)

SOLD

WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE. GALLA PLACIDIA, AD 421-450.
Gold solidus, 4.31 g, 21 mm. Issue of Ravenna, AD 426-430.
Obv. D N GALLA PLA-CIDIA P F AVG, diademed and draped bust of Galla Placidia right, Chi-Rho ornament on shoulder, the hand of God (Manus Dei) above, crowning her. Rev. VOT XX MVLT XXX, Victory standing left, holding jeweled cross, star above, R-V (Ravenna) in field.
RIC X, 2012.
Ex Freeman & Sear 8, 2/2/2003, lot 497.
NGC graded CHOICE XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5, “graffiti”, “clipped”, “edge marks”.

Galla Placidia was the daughter of Theodosius I and quite likely the most influential empress of the Late Antique period. She was first married to a Gothic king and subsequently to the emperor Constantius III with whom she had Valentinian III. She served as regent for Valentinian until AD 437 when he reached maturity. A devout Christian and great patron of the faith, she commissioned several important churches in Ravenna and elsewhere. For an excellent book discussing her fascinating life and legacy see Hagith Sivan, Galla Placidia – the Last Roman Empress (2011).