Going back into the late Roman aspect of the collection is another example of a commemorative piece for the marriage of Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia, which occurred during October 437.  Last July, as the Coin of the Month, I displayed a piece that was produced by Theodosius II (Licinia Eudoxia's father) in commemoration of this marriage and now here is the corresponding piece by Valentinian III.  The obverse of the coin is highly unusual with a helmeted bust of Valentinian III, the first time this device is used.  Also, the portrait of Valentinian III displays what is considered to be his actual physical features/appearance and he does look somewhat like the simpleton that history has shown he was.

The reverse has Valentinian III on the left, Theodosius II (the father of the bride) in the center and Licinia Eudoxia on the right.  Notice how all three figures are nimbate, trying to portray their "divine" nature.  Also, notice the joining of Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia's hands in the middle signifying the unification of the Empire.  (Which, of course really did not happen!)  As with several other coins that try to show East and West unification, the hand of Licinia Eudoxia is on top.  I believe that this is an intentional display of assumed Eastern superiority.  (Once again giving credence to the saying of "having the upper hand".)  Another interesting point is that COMOB is used in the exergual area of the reverse which normally means that a coin was produced in the Western part of the Empire.  However, due to an obverse die linkage (later die state) to another coin (that is in this collection and will be featured next month) that was produced in Thessalonica (where Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia "honeymooned" during the winter of 437/8), means that this coin had to have been produced earlier in Constantinople.  My theory is that these dies where produced by a Western die cutter that was traveling with Valentinian III to be able to produce any coinage that might have been necessary and therefore, did not think one moment about its usage.  (More about this next month.)

This piece is one of three/four known and confirmed specimens (there is a little confusion over the identity of one piece, but I believe that there are four) with another piece being rumored to exist, all sharing the same dies.   These pieces (both the Theodosius II and the Valentinian III obverse marriage solidi) were definitely given out as favors to the attendants of the wedding or during the wedding celebration and, therefore, a limited production (using one set of dies per producer) would be more than ample to facilitate the required donations.   It weighs 4.41 grams and has a small flan indentation at 3 o'clock of the obverse. It is unlisted in RIC Volume X and is considered an extreme rarity.