Nomos 3

Justa Grata Honoria, Augusta, circa AD 426-450. Tremissis (Gold, 1.48 g, 6 h), Rome or Ravenna, c. 430-437. D N IVST GRAT HONORIA P F AVG Diademed and draped bust of Honoria to right, wearing pearl necklace and with a cross on her shoulder. Rev. COMOB Cross within wreath. Depeyrot 47/10. DOC LRC 868. RIC X, 2068. Very rare. Lightly struck but clear and attractive. About extremely fine.

From the East Side collection, Switzerland.

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.