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Orbis Collectibles

RIC X Marcian 523

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 450–AD 457

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Solidus in gold struck at Thessalonica under Marcian, AD 450–AD 457, catalogued as RIC X Marcian 523. Obverse: Bust of Marcian, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman on left arm.

Reverse: Marcian, draped, cuirassed, standing front, holding standard in right hand and cross on globe in left hand; star in left field. Obverse legend: D N MARCIA-NVS P F AVG. Reverse legend: GLOR ORVI-S TERRAR.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Marcian served as a personal assistant under military commanders before becoming Roman emperor of the East in 450, following the death of Emperor Theodosius II. Supported by the influential commander Aspar, Marcian married Theodosius's sister Pulcheria and was inaugurated on 25 August 450, reigning until 457. This gold solidus, a denomination introduced in the early fourth century as a highly pure coin of approximately 4.45 grams, was struck under Marcian's authority at Thessalonica.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Solidus

Technical characteristics

Mint
Thessalonica
Issuing authority
Marcian

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Marcian, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman on left arm
Reverse type
Marcian, draped, cuirassed, standing front, holding standard in right hand and cross on globe in left hand; star in left field
Obverse legend
D N MARCIA-NVS P F AVG
Reverse legend
GLOR ORVI-S TERRAR

Identification

How to identify
RIC separates types by mint and officina marks, obverse legend and bust form, and reverse legend and type; check the exergue and field marks against the RIC number before accepting a match.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.10.marc_e.523
Catalogue reference
RIC X Marcian 523
Type corpus identifier
ric.10.marc_e.523
Source note
The type record is Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), the American Numismatic Society's digital edition of Roman Imperial Coinage.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Nominal weight not transcribed from a primary reference
  • Diameter and die axis not transcribed
  • Mint mark and officina detail not transcribed
  • No rights-cleared photograph identified yet
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