Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Arcadius (Eastern Roman Emperor)

Own a Bronze Coin from the First Emperor of What Would Become Byzantium

A real AE2 bronze of Arcadius — the elder son of Theodosius I who received the eastern empire at its permanent division in AD 395, governed from Constantinople while his brother Honorius watched the west begin its collapse, and became the first ruler of what historians would eventually call the Byzantine Empire. NGC certified.

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🌍 From the first emperor of the Byzantine East — the permanent division of AD 395 making Arcadius the ruler of the empire that would outlast Rome by nearly a thousand years
🏛 Reverse bears GLORIA ROMANORVM with Victory or military standards — the enduring glory of Rome proclaimed from Constantinople as the western empire began its irreversible decline
🤲 A substantial AE2, approximately 22–24mm, 4–5 grams — the larger bronze of the first Byzantine emperor. NGC certified.

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

When Theodosius I died at Milan in January AD 395, the Roman Empire was divided between his two sons for what was intended as an administrative arrangement — previous emperors had divided governance without intending permanent separation. This time it was different. Arcadius, approximately seventeen years old, received the eastern provinces and governed from Constantinople. His younger brother Honorius received the west and would govern from Ravenna as the western frontier collapsed around him. The two halves never reunited.

Arcadius himself was not a forceful ruler — ancient sources describe him as passive and easily dominated by the powerful ministers who competed for influence at his court. The praetorian prefect Rufinus dominated early in the reign until his assassination in AD 395. The eunuch chamberlain Eutropius followed, then the empress Eudoxia, then the praetorian prefect Anthemius — each in turn the real governing force while Arcadius wore the diadem. Yet the eastern empire survived and strengthened under this collective management, its economy growing, Constantinople expanding, its administrative machinery functioning effectively despite the personal limitations of the emperor nominally in charge.

The contrast with the west was stark and growing. While Honorius watched Alaric's Visigoths sack Rome in AD 410 — the first sack of the eternal city in eight centuries — the eastern empire managed its Gothic pressures with a combination of diplomacy, military force, and strategic patience that kept Constantinople secure. Arcadius died in AD 408, leaving a seven-year-old son Theodosius II as his successor — the child who would build the walls that protected that empire for a thousand years more. This AE2 bronze, weighing 4–5 grams and measuring 22–24mm, was struck during the reign that marked the beginning of Byzantium. Certified by NGC.

Perfect for:

• Collectors of Theodosian dynasty, Byzantine origins, and Roman AE2 larger bronze coinage
• History lovers drawn to Arcadius, the permanent east-west division, and the birth of the Byzantine Empire
• GLORIA ROMANORVM type, Constantinople eastern empire, and NGC certified late Roman bronze enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking a foundational coin from the moment Rome became Byzantium

What You'll Receive

• One authentic AE2 bronze of Arcadius
• Denomination: AE2 (approximately 22–24mm, 4–5 grams — larger late Roman bronze)
• NGC certified for authenticity and preservation
• Struck AD 383–408 — similar to examples shown (each coin is unique)

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

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