★ Sack of Rome ★

Honorius or Arcadius (393-423), AE4, issued 404-408. Rome, third officina, 2.01g, 16mm. Scarce.
Obv: [DN …..]IVS PF AVG; pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VRBS ROMA FELIX; Roma standing facing, head right, holding trophy and Victory, shield resting against her legs. OF-T across fields; SMROM in ex.
RIC X 1280, Esty type 49.
This type is one of the most ironic in the entire Roman series. Issued only at Rome, it proclaims the luck of the city. In 408, the city would be beseiged by the Visigoths under Alaric, and two years later would be subjected to a sack… for the first time in 800 years. So much for Rome’s luck!
Larger flan than most (though missing the portion required to identify the emperor), and an exceptionally nice example of the type.