Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Three Emperors by Ashley Gietl




ANCIENT COIN DATA SHEET
Student: Ashley Gietl
Teacher: Ms. Flood
Class: Latin II
Period: D block even
Date Begun: 2/12/09

Coin Diameter 15mm
Weight 1.02 grams
Denomination AE4
Metal Bronze
Obverse Depiction
A man wearing a beaded headdress, he has a very small face, facing the right
Reverse Depiction
3 emperors, the one in the middle is smaller
Obverse Inscription
DN HONORI - VS PF AVG
Reverse Inscription
GLORI - A ROMA - NORVM
Mint Location
Antioch mint's 4th workshop.
Exergue Markings
The mintmark reads ANT D (4)
Die Orientation
Metallic

The coin “The Three Emperors,” is said to represent the three Emperors Arcadius, Honorius and Theodosius II. Since the last named was very young (about 5) he is shown smaller than his fellow Augusti. Arcadius was born in Spain, the elder son of Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of Honorius. In this reign of a weak emperor dominated by court politics, a major theme was the ambivalence felt by prominent individuals and the court parties that formed and regrouped round them towards barbarians. Rulling the Western Roman Empire from 395 until his death was Honorius. He was the younger son of Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of the Eastern Emperor Arcadius. Honorius was an exceptionally weak emperor. His throne was guarded by his principal general, Flavius Stilicho, who was successively Honorius's guardian (during his childhood) and his father-in-law. And lastly, Theodius was the grandson of Theodius I, the young emperor particularly enjoyed editing and correcting manuscripts. As he grew older and succeeded his father as sole ruler of the east in 408, Theodosius was instructed in the more martial skills of horsemanship, swordplay and perhaps other military arts as well.

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