Constantius III, 8th February – 2nd September 421
Solidus, Ravenna 421, AV 4.44 g. D N CONSTAN – TIVS P F AVG Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORI – A AVGGG Emperor standing facing, head r., holding standard and Victory on globe, spurning captive with his l. foot; in field, R – V. In exergue, COMOB. C 1. RIC 1325. Depeyrot 7/4. Ranieri 48.
Extremely rare. A portrait of unusually fine style struck on a very broad flan,
light reddish tone and about extremely fine

Ex Hess-Leu 3, 1956, 441; Hess-Leu 15, 1960, 420; NGSA 8, 2014, 190 and Künker 277, 2016, 162 sales.
The Danubian commander Constantius III had enjoyed a stellar career by the time he undertook a naval blockade of Spain and Gaul in 415, which caused the murder of the Visigothic king Athaulf. In achieving this victory Constantius secured the return of the emperor Honorius’ half-sister Galla Placidia, who had been captured by the Visigoths when they sacked Rome in 410, and who in the meantime had been forced to marry king Athaulf. Riding the tide of his triumph, Constantius pressed for a royal marriage with the rescued empress, which occurred on January 1, 417, when he also assumed his second consulship. Slightly more than four years passed before Constantius gained enough prestige at court that Honorius reluctantly declared him co-emperor. This elevation was well-received in the West, where the soldiers were relieved to have a proven soldier sharing the throne, but it was not acknowledged by the Eastern emperor Theodosius II. The specter of civil war loomed for seven months until the stalemate was finally resolved by Constantius’ death, seemingly of natural causes, on September 2, 421. Due in part to the brevity of his reign, only gold solidi and tremisses from Ravenna were struck in Constantius’ name. Beyond coinage, his other lasting legacy was his son Valentinian III, by Galla Placidia, who eventually ruled the Western Roman Empire, albeit impotently, for thirty years.