Ancient Roman gold solidus of Honorius / Milan mint

Code: 11938

This is an ancient Roman gold Solidus of emperor Honorius dating to 393 - 423 AD.

Obverse: DN HONORI-VS PF AVG, "Our Lord Honorius, Dutiful and Wise Augustus" Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: VICTORI-A AVGGG, "To the Victory of the Emperors" Honorius standing right, holding plain standard and Victory on globe, captive at foot. M.D. either side for Mediolanum and  COM OB in exergue*

*The moneta comitatensis was the imperial court mint that followed the emperor.  A special mintmark COM for comitatus (or COMT.M) Most coins signed by the comitatensian mint also bear a supplementary abbreviation referring to the name of the town where the coin was actually struck in this case in Mediolanum. The OB refers to pure gold - so it would read as "pure gold of the Imperial Court" (COMOB)

DENOMINATION: Solidus

MATERIAL: Gold

DATE: 393 - 423 AD (this coin minted between 395 - 396 AD)

MINTMARK: M.D. (Mediolanum = Milan, Italy)

SIZE: 21mm diameter

WEIGHT: 4.51 grams

ATTRIBUTION:  RIC X 1206, c - RC.4244 (300£) - Dep.16 /2 - LRC. 714 - MRK.179 /2 var.