The coins shown are representative examples of the grade and type, but not the actual specimens for sale. For details on NGC’s grading standards and definitions, please refer to our NGC Grading page.
Roman Empire – Honorius (AD 393–423) – Bronze AE4, NGC Certified
This modest bronze AE4 was issued under Emperor Honorius, ruler of the Western Roman Empire during its twilight years.
Obverse: Bust of Honorius with imperial crown, a symbol of his legitimacy and authority.
Reverse: Roman imperial symbols and inscriptions, reflecting the continuity of power even as Rome’s strength waned.
Technical Details: Bronze AE4 denomination; authenticated and certified by NGC.
Historical Significance:
Honorius, son of Theodosius the Great, inherited a fragile Western Empire at a young age. His reign (AD 393–423) was marked by unrelenting pressures: barbarian invasions, political intrigue, and economic decline. Though guided early on by his general and father-in-law Stilicho, Honorius is most remembered for presiding over the era when Rome was sacked by Alaric’s Visigoths in AD 410—a symbolic blow to imperial prestige. This smaller denomination coin reflects the increasingly strained economy of the late empire and stands as a tangible artifact of the final decades when the Western Roman administration still functioned before its eventual collapse.
Compact yet historically powerful, this AE4 connects collectors to one of Rome’s last emperors and a pivotal moment in the empire’s decline.
The coins shown are representative examples of the grade and type, but not the actual specimens for sale. For details on NGC’s grading standards and definitions, please refer to our NGC Grading page.
Roman Empire – Honorius (AD 393–423) – Bronze AE4, NGC Certified
This modest bronze AE4 was issued under Emperor Honorius, ruler of the Western Roman Empire during its twilight years.
Obverse: Bust of Honorius with imperial crown, a symbol of his legitimacy and authority.
Reverse: Roman imperial symbols and inscriptions, reflecting the continuity of power even as Rome’s strength waned.
Technical Details: Bronze AE4 denomination; authenticated and certified by NGC.
Historical Significance:
Honorius, son of Theodosius the Great, inherited a fragile Western Empire at a young age. His reign (AD 393–423) was marked by unrelenting pressures: barbarian invasions, political intrigue, and economic decline. Though guided early on by his general and father-in-law Stilicho, Honorius is most remembered for presiding over the era when Rome was sacked by Alaric’s Visigoths in AD 410—a symbolic blow to imperial prestige. This smaller denomination coin reflects the increasingly strained economy of the late empire and stands as a tangible artifact of the final decades when the Western Roman administration still functioned before its eventual collapse.
Compact yet historically powerful, this AE4 connects collectors to one of Rome’s last emperors and a pivotal moment in the empire’s decline.
