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 Replies: 8 / Views: 215 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
974 Posts |
I just got this nice example of the Manus Dei (hand of God) crowning the Emperor.  Arcadius A.D. 378- 383 AE Centenionalis 23x24mm 5.4g D N ARCADIVS P F AVG; pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield, Hand of God above crowning Emperor with wreath. GLORIA ROMANORVM; Emperor standing facing, head left, holding standard & resting shield at side, bound captive seated on ground to left. In ex. CONΓ star RIC IX Constantinople 53b Edited by Victor
09/09/2026 12:52 pm
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Moderator
United States
194816 Posts |
Outstanding acquisition!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5003 Posts |
Oh yeah, very nice...love that hand of God obverse..the freaky captive the other side is pretty great also!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2121 Posts |
That is a very nice example. I only have this example from Alexandria, which came in a lot with something I was after. Obv:- D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right, spear in right hand, shield on left arm, hand of God above offering diadem Rev:- GLORIA ROMANORVM (glory of the Romans), Emperor standing facing, head left, wearing diadem and military garb, vexillum in right hand, resting left hand on grounded shield at side, captive seated facing on left with hands bound behind his back and looking up at the Emperor Minted in Alexandria (T|_//ALED). 19 Jan 383 - c. 386 A.D Reference(s) - RIC XI Alexandria 16  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3483 Posts |
With no intention of 'disparaging' your fine example of Mssr Arcadius
It has that peculiar sort of patina that I rather associate with Home Depot .
Having more than once encountered these 'artifacts'
Have you tried testing it ?
ie acetone bath ?
Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
Today 5H 11M ago
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
8038 Posts |
It shows what a sheltered numismatic existence I lead that I wasn't aware the "manus dei" pre-dates its use on medieval (and later) coins I'm familiar with.
I don't see the manus very clearly in these depictions. Is it more like a fist? I am used to seeing an open hand with visible fingers.
Edited by tdziemia
Today 3H 24M ago
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
974 Posts |
On these Arcadius coins it is a closed hand holding a wreath, but there is an earlier type on posthumous coins of Constantine that depict the hand of God reaching down to Constantine in a quadriga.  Constantine I Posthumous issue A.D. 337- 340 15x16mm 2.8gm DV CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG; Veiled head right. Rev: Emperor, veiled to right in quadriga; the hand of God reaches down to him; star in upper right field. In ex. SMANB RIC VIII Antioch 37 Eusebius wrote about these coins shortly after the death of Constantine in A.D. 337 -- "At the same time coins were struck portraying the Blessed One on the obverse in the form of one with head veiled, on the reverse like a charioteer on a quadriga, being taken up by a right hand stretched out to him from above." Life of Constantine IV 73 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8038 Posts |
Thanks. Yes, that manus is more like the one seen here (but also typical on coins in the Germanic world since at least 1100s):  Bishopric of Metz, undated gros, 1st half 15th c., Boudeau 1659. But also triggers another question: who is the veiled "Holy One" obverse of your coin? Because that veiled image is always Mary in later times. (sorry if taking the thread farther afield). Edited by tdziemia
Today 2H 12M ago
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Pillar of the Community
United States
974 Posts |
it's Constantine I in a burial shroud
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Replies: 8 / Views: 215 |
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Posted 09/09/2026 4:37 pm
