Civilization: Roman Empire
Ruler: Arcadius
Mint: Cyzicus
Year: 395-408 AD
Composition: Bronze
Denomination: Follis
Diameter: 23.0mm
Weight: 6.59g
Reference: RIC IX Cyzicus 25c

Obverse
DN ARCADIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse
VIRTVS E-XERCITI, Emperor standing right, holding labarum and globe, left foot on captive. Mintmark SMKΔ

Arcadius (377–408 AD), Eastern Roman Emperor from 395, ruled during the empire’s pivotal division. The son of Theodosius I, he ascended as a figurehead, overshadowed by dominant court figures. Weak and passive, Arcadius delegated power to advisors like the ambitious eunuch Eutropius and his wife, Aelia Eudoxia, who wielded significant influence.

His reign saw the consolidation of the Eastern Empire’s identity. Key events included conflicts with Stilicho, regent of the West, and managing Gothic tensions. Eutropius’ controversial reforms and eventual downfall in 399 highlighted the internal intrigues of the court. Eudoxia’s feud with Patriarch John Chrysostom reflected the era's complex church-state dynamics.

Despite his subdued leadership, Arcadius' reign set the stage for a stable Eastern Empire, which would evolve into Byzantium. His death in 408 left his son Theodosius II as his successor, continuing the dynasty amidst a shifting Roman world.