Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 2



      ancient classic artifacts coins numismatic roman greek 



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                        Lot: 483

                        (click on image to enlarge)
                        ROMAN EMPIRE: Eudocia, wife of Theodosius II. Augusta, 
                        AD 423-440/1. AV 2-solidi medallion (8.93 gm).

                        ROMAN EMPIRE. Eudocia (wife of Theodosius II). Gold 
                        medallion of 2 solidi (8.93 gm). Constantinople. AEL 
                        EVDOCIA AVG, draped bust right, wearing pearl diadem / 
                        SALVS REI PVBLICAE, empress, nimbate, seated facing on 
                        throne, arms crossed before breast, feet on footstool 
                        shaped like ship's prow, CONOB in exergue, star in left 
                        field. Tkalec, 18 February 2002, lot 277 and Berk 126, 
                        April 2002, lot 563 (both same reverse die). Otherwise 
                        unpublished. Extremely rare: third known specimen, from 
                        the same reverse die as the other two, but from a new 
                        obverse die. Some areas of flat striking on obverse and 
                        reverse but virtually as struck 

                        Athenaïs, the daughter of a pagan professor of rhetoric 
                        and philosophy, was selected by the empress Pulcheria, 
                        for her beauty and intellect, to be the bride of 
                        Theodosius II. Baptized as Eudocia, the new Christian 
                        convert married the emperor on 7 June 421 and was 
                        elevated to the rank of Augusta on 2 January 423. For 
                        the next two decades she exercised considerable 
                        influence at the court. But in 440/1 two of her closest 
                        allies fell into disgrace, and Eudocia herself was 
                        repudiated in late 442 or in 443 on suspicion of 
                        adultery. The empress spent the rest of her life in 
                        retirement in Jerusalem, but even there she was subject 
                        to the hostile scrutiny of her household by the jealous 
                        and suspicious emperor. Eudocia died on 20 October 460, 
                        still protesting her fidelity to Theodosius. 
                        Estimated Value: $ 75,000 




...Lot was unsold.
 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com) 
                      and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).