Honorius, 393-423. Solidus (Gold, 21 mm, 4.52 g, 12 h), Ravenna, 415. D N HONORI-VS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Honorius to right, wearing crested helmet decorated with three stars. Rev. VICTORI-A AVGGG / R - V / COB Honorius standing front in military attire, crowned by manus Dei and placing his right foot on serpent-tailed lion prostrate left, holding long staff surmounted by Christogram in his right hand and placing his left on sword hilt. Depeyrot 3/1. RIC 1310. Rare. Very well struck and nicely centered, a lovely example of this intriguing issue. Small bumps to the emperor's cheek and with very light traces of mounting at 12 o'clock on the edge, otherwise, extremely fine.



This impressive solidus features a remarkable military iconography for its time. The bust of Honorius is adorned with a richly decorated helmet with a crest, while the reverse depicts the emperor in military attire, placing his right foot and a long scepter, embellished with a Christogram, upon a subdued lion whose tail ends in a serpent. The distinctly Christian symbolism is further emphasized by the hand of God, which appears from the heavens above, crowning the emperor with a wreath of victory.

Considering Honorius' weak reign, marked by crises and barbarian invasions, and his retreat to Ravenna, where he entrusted the affairs of state to his magistri militum, the victorious imagery on the coin seems somewhat ironic. According to a famous anecdote recounted by Procopius, Honorius, secluded in his Ravenna refuge, was more concerned with the well-being of his favorite chicken, Roma, than with the news of Rome’s fall to Alaric’s Goths in 410 - a scene that inspired the well-known play Romulus der Grosse ('Romulus the Great') by the great Swiss dramatist, Friedrich Dürrenmatt.

Nevertheless, after the fall of Rome, Honorius' highly capable magister utriusque militiae, Flavius Constantius, had begun to stabilize the Western Empire following his appointment in 411, successfully quelling the usurpations of Constantine III and Jovinus. Until his unexpected death in 421, Constantius - Honorius' brother-in-law since 417 and co-emperor since 421 - achieved significant victories against various barbarian tribes. Honorius himself died just two years later, shortly before his 40th birthday.