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Orbis Collectibles

RIC X Marcian 535

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 450–AD 457

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

AE4 in bronze struck at Thessalonica under Marcian, AD 450–AD 457, catalogued as RIC X Marcian 535. Obverse: Bust of Marcian, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right. Reverse: Marcian monogram 1 within wreath, + above. Obverse legend: D N MARCIANVS P F AVG.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
4
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 Roman emperor of the East from 450 to 457. Originally a personal assistant under the commanders Ardabur and Aspar, he was put forward for the imperial throne by Aspar after the death of Emperor Theodosius II on 28 July 450. Following negotiations, Theodosius's sister Pulcheria agreed to marry him, leading to Marcian's inauguration on 25 August 450. This bronze piece was struck under his authority at the mint of Thessalonica, a major city situated on the Thermaic Gulf.

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
AE4

Technical characteristics

Mint
Thessalonica
Issuing authority
Marcian

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Marcian, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse type
Marcian monogram 1 within wreath, + above
Obverse legend
D N MARCIANVS P F AVG
Reverse legend
Not recorded in the source

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. 1 near-identical catalogue variant is consolidated into this entry.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.10.marc_e.535
Catalogue reference
RIC X Marcian 535
Type corpus identifier
ric.10.marc_e.535
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

Varieties

  • RIC X Marcian 538

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

  • RIC X Marcian 568

    Same ruler, denomination and reverse type; reverse legend not recorded in the source. Consolidated into this entry.

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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