The Sack of Rome 2 Oz High relief Silver Coin

 The Sack of Rome 2 Oz High relief Silver Coin

The sack of Rome in 410 AD was a pivotal moment in the history of the Western Roman Empire, marking the first time in nearly 800 years that the city of Rome itself had been captured by a foreign enemy. The Visigoths, led by King Alaric I, successfully breached the city’s defenses, sending shockwaves through the empire. This event is often described as one of the key symbols of the decline of the Western Roman Empire. 

The sack of Rome was deeply traumatic for the people of the Empire. Its cultural and spiritual heart was conquered; it was like a collapse of Roman civilization itself. Thus St. Jerome, living in Bethlehem at the time, wrote the famous words, “The city which had taken the whole world was itself taken.”. 

The top part of the reverse depicts King Alaric and the Visigoths falling upon Rome, almost like a divine retribution, while the bottom part shows the carnage caused by the barbarians. The dark blue tones of the horde contrast with the bright yellow flames of the city, pointing to the dramatic nature of the event. On the obverse, we see a deteriorating laurel wreath along a Roman officer helmet pierced by arrows. The scene works as a great metaphor for the city of Rome, as well as the whole Roman Empire.