Constantine I - Soli Invicto

Trying to keep it cheap for right now after two rather large purchases, so this latest purchase will probably be my last for a while. Was a metal-detecting find in the UK.

Constantine I Follis

Obv: CONSTANTINVS P AVG, laureate cuirassed bust right
Rev: SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol standing left with chlamys falling from left shoulder and holding globe, right hand raised, PLN in ex, London mint
RIC VII 93, rated R1 (minted 316-317 AD), 21 mm wide

 

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that's a nice coin vk. how long will it last you? till thursday?

 

That's definitely a nice Constantine I Londinium issue. :thumb:

 

The busts on London minted coins are so distinctive from other mints. This is a nice Sol Invicto.

 

Very cool Vk, awesome that some one found this in the ground..:thumb:

 

True, I have this issue with a bust just like this one, probably made by the same engraver as the style is so exact.

 

I'd like to see it. It's difficult to find die matches.

 

London mint coins are some of the best out of all the mints IMO.
Thanks for the comments!

 

Gorgeous looking coin, Jango!!

:kewl:

... sadly, I don't have a Constantine I to add to your thread, "yet"

 

Nice one VK - I have a soft spot for both the London mint and Soli Invictos :thumb:

A couple of mine:

IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG - Bust right, laureate, cuirassed, from front
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI - Sol standing left, facing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globus in left hand
S F PLN, Minted 313-315, RIC VII London 10 (98)




IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG - Bust right, laureate, cuirassed, from front
SOLI IN[VI]C-TO COMITI - Sol standing left, facing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globus in left hand
S F MSL, Minted 315, RIC VII London 32 (99)

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I have an MLN mintmarked one somewhere but cant seem to find it.

 

Excellent coins bobby. Never seen MSL mintmark before.

 

Very nice London mint coin.

 

Constantine the Great
Obv:- IMP CONSTANTINVS AG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:- SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left etc.
Minted in London (S|P/MLN)
Ref:- RIC VII London Unlisted. Note AG instead of AVG

 

Constantine the Great
Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS AG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left holding globe in left and raising right
Minted in London S | P / MSL
Reference:– RIC VII London 70 (R4)

 

Constantine the Great
Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– SOLI INVICTI COMITI, Sol standing left, holding right hand high in salute and globe
Minted in London (* | _ / PLN).
Reference:– RIC VII London 280

 

I've never been a big fan of London coins but I understand how they win the popularity contest here where most of us are English as a primary language types. I suspect that German and French language sites would have more people liking other mints. In the time of Constantine, I like Rome followed closely by the neighboring mint at Ostia. It is a matter of style preferences or 'taste'. I only have one Ostia and my favorite portrait from Rome happens to be on my doublestruck clashed dies coins (a bit of a mess). Every mint has good dies and bad. Some collectors pay extra for examples from better dies but they are a minority. Others of us are happy to have an example of 17 different mints even though some of them are decidedly second rate.

 

There is a decent amount of variation amongst Sols to look out for too.

I have a real soft spot for Lugdunum and I know that some people find that odd by hey ho.

Constantine the Great Follis
Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev:- SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol advancing left, raising right hand, holding whip in left hand
Minted in Lugdunum (F | T / PLG). Spring A.D. 310 - 311
Reference:– RIC VI Lugdunum 312 (Rated Scarce). Bastien XI 528 (28 examples)
3.32g. 24.26mm

 

All it takes is a small change from the engraver to change a standing Sol to a walking Sol

Constantine the Great Follis
Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear
Rev:– SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol walking left holding globe in left and raising right.
Minted in Lugdunum. F in left field, T in right field, PLC in exe. A.D. 309 - 310
Reference:– RIC VI Lugdunum - (Unlisted reverse type variation). Bastien 529 (4 examples cited)

 

Trier produced huge numbers. Some of them are beautiful.
Constantine the Great - Follis - RIC VII Trier 105 var
Obv:– CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left holding globe in left hand and raising right (spread coak)
Minted in Trier (T | F / ATR).
Reference:– RIC VII Trier 105 var (Spread chlamys rather than over shoulder as on 105)
Weight 3.45g. 20.36mm

 

Still not found my MLN London Constantine but did just find these two Licinius Sols from the same mint, both quite scarce (R3s):

An MSL (RIC VII London 96) and a PLN (RIC VII London 35)​