Follis - Arcadius VIRTVS EXERCITI, Cyzicus

Arcadius inherited the eastern half of a divided empire in 395 following his father Theodosius I's death — the last time a single ruler had controlled both halves. The VIRTVS EXERCITI type was a deliberate response to the military instability of those years, when Stilicho and the western court were actively contesting control of Illyricum and the loyalty of the eastern field armies was by no means guaranteed.

Cyzicus, on the Propontis, was one of the most productive mints of the late fourth century. RIC X #66 is among the commoner Arcadian issues from that facility, though attribution between officinae requires attention to the mintmark suffixes.