Product Details

Theodosius II is known for his law code and religious edicts that declared Christianity the sole religion of the empire, as well as for the construction of the Theodosian Walls, which protected the capital Constantinople for over 1,000 years. This small coin is a fascinating and unique piece of early Christian history and it may be the earliest roman coinage bearing the symbol of the cross. By most estimates only 15% of the Roman empire was Christian in the early 4th century, while Constantine ushered in the religion to the army and imperial offices the majority of the population and elite were still pagan. This rapidly changed in the century from the Constantinian to the Theodosian dynasty. The association of the cross with Christianity itself was also a relatively new development during this period. Depicting the instrument of the Savior’s execution on coinage, churches, or imperial buildings seemed counterintuitive, or even offensive, to many.So the appearance of the cross on the lowest denomination of Roman coinage illustrates a profound societal and cultural shift within the empire and marks Christianity’s eventual and almost complete adoption in under a century. 10 mm 0.47 gm Obverse N THEODOSIVS P F AVG Worn visage of emperor Theodisus II facing right Reverse- 'CONCORDIA AVGGG' Large Latin Cross with SMK in exergue Imperial Roman Cyzicus mint.