DN ARCADIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS-EXERCITI, emperor standing left, head right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield. Victory, standing beside him crowns him with a wreath held in her right hand. Mintmark ANTB. 18mm, 3.07 grams. Antioch mint. RIC X 70; Sear 20832.

Arcadius (c. 377–408 CE) was Eastern Roman emperor from 395 to 408 CE, the elder son of Theodosius I and brother of Honorius, who ruled the Western Empire. When Theodosius died in 395, the empire was permanently divided between the two brothers, with Arcadius ruling from Constantinople. His reign was dominated by the influence of powerful court officials and his formidable wife, Aelia Eudoxia, leading to a weak and often indecisive imperial presence. The Eastern Empire under Arcadius faced threats from the Goths, internal power struggles, and growing tensions with the Western court. Despite these challenges, the Eastern Empire remained relatively stable and prosperous compared to the West. Arcadius died in 408, leaving the throne to his young son Theodosius II.