The Rise of the Cult of the Madonna – Bronze Coin of Arcadius (AD 395–408)

Arcadius Bronze AE – Rise of Madonna Cult (NGC Certified) — Pulcheria's Legacy

Authentic NGC-certified bronze coin of Arcadius (395–408 AD) — first independent Eastern emperor, father of Pulcheria who launches Virgin Mary veneration transforming Christianity.

Byzantine Transition Design

• Obverse: Classical profile → frontal Byzantine portrait

• Reverse: Victory / religious symbols + military authority

• Legacy: East-West empire division complete

Technical Specifications

• Material: Bronze AE (late Roman)

• Denomination: Nummus / centenionalis

• Certification: NGC slabbed

• Date: AD 395–408

• Mints: Constantinople / Eastern

Madonna Cult Essential

• Pulcheria dedicates life to Virgin Mary age 15

• Arcadius builds first Marian churches

• Seeds Theotokos doctrine (Council Ephesus 431)

• Madonna becomes Christianity's central devotion

Collector Masterpiece

First Byzantine emperor + Virgin cult origin. Pulcheria's devotion reshapes religion forever.

Note: Coins shown are representative examples of grade/type, not actual specimens. For NGC grading standards, see NGC grading page.