Nomos 20

Justa Grata Honoria, Augusta, circa 426-450. Solidus (Gold, 21.5 mm, 4.34 g, 11 h), Ravenna, c. 439. D N IVST GRAT HO-NORIA P F AVG Diademed and draped bust of Honoria to right, wearing pearl necklace and with a cross on her shoulder; above her head, manus Dei holding nimbus. Rev. BONO REI-PVBLICAE / R-V/ COMOB Victory standing facing, head turned to left, holding long jeweled cross with her right hand; star in upper left field. Cohen 1. Depeyrot 15/1. Ranieri 87-9. RIC 2022. Very rare. Clear and attractive. Minor flatness on the reverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Honoria was the older sister of Valentinian III and seems to have attempted to play the important role that other female members of the House of Theodosius managed to obtain for themselves. She must have rightly viewed her brother as a relatively worthless person (true) but her attempt to advance her position by secretly marrying the imperial chamberlain Eugenius only resulted in his execution and her exile. She then sent a letter to Attila the Hun offering herself to him, but this idea failed as well when Attila withdrew his army from Italy in the face of Aëtius and the remonstrations of Pope Leo I. She was then married off to an elderly senator named Herculanus and disappears from history.