DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Victory walking left, carrying trophy and dragging a captive behind her, chi-rho in left field. Mintmark ANTA. 13mm, 1.43 grams. Antioch mint. RIC IX Antioch 67b.

Theodosius I, also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395 CE and the last ruler to govern both the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire. He is best known for making Nicene Christianity the official state religion and for banning pagan practices, which transformed the empire’s religious landscape. Theodosius worked to restore stability after years of civil war and barbarian invasions, negotiating with Gothic tribes and asserting imperial authority. Upon his death in 395, the empire was permanently divided between his two sons - Arcadius in the East and Honorius in the West - marking a turning point in Roman history.