Featured Triumphs and Tribulations

There are various Vota types - look for ones with well-struck reverses. Doug raises a very good question: why so much variety in the bronze but not in the silver?

 

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I am very shallow sometimes, but if I owned your two AMB coins, they would most definitely be my favorites!

 

After all the great types used in the Fel Temp Reparatio period, I guess we have to allow one with some guy standing there. A good thing is that many dealers don't know how hard it is to find nice ones so they don't ask a lot for better ones.


Also come in Julian:

 

And this Phoenix-on-globe type was something I won on eBay a few days ago. It's on its way, seller's pic...

 

My Theories on the subject

Constantius II's reign was always shaky or so he thought ( Constantius was extremely paranoid), my guess is that he wanted to show that his regime was secure. So he churned out the Vota and Victoria AVG series of Siliquae.
I suppose that silver was more prestigious than bronze and was used to pay the Comitatensis(army) or to drive the point home about Constantius being the lawful Emperor.
See what Vot XXX MVLTIS XXX means
Votes Tricennalibus Multis Quadragennalibus - vows (prayers) on the thirtieth anniversary [of the emperors rule], more for his [hoped for] fourtieth anniversary.
That or it could just be the further "christianization" of the coinage.

 

Constantius spent his entire reign putting out fires. It's not paranoia if everyone really is out to get you, and if you're the Roman emperor, everyone really is out to get you.

 

That is true but he did "purge" his senior officials on a semi regular basis and was easily swayed by eunuchs and flatterers.
See
http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Claudius_Silvanus

I really can't blame him though, I doubt I would have done any better

 

You're easily swayed by eunuchs?

 

Well .............
I plead the 5th!

 

I am indebted to you and all my other CT brothers and Sisters (except Steve, JK)
I just love this depiction of Constantius II with the "oriental" dress. I would never have guessed that he was a Roman Emperor from his clothes!

Constantius II


Constantius Gallus

For more see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronography_of_354

 

I was not aware of the Chronography of 354. Thanks for the link!

 

nice write up and a yet another beautiful coin MM. i have several coins of constantius ii from my coin cleaning days when i first started, but not many pictures of them. most are decent at best. here's one that is ok, has a nice reverse.

 

Anytime JA.
Nice little coin, Chris.
Please feel free to post them!

 

Great write up. Those coins are...

 

Interesting write up MM and nice oin from Arles
Bing, enjoy your trip to Poland, I've been visiting Crakaw last april and loved the city and people there, have a great time

My only two silver coins of CII, a siliqua and a light milirense :


Constantius II, Siliqua Sirmium mint
D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Diademed bust of Constantius right
VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX, in a wreath. SIRM at exergue.
2.07 gr
Ref : Cohen #342, RC #3997



Constantius II, Light miliarense, Ferrando II plate coin Arles mint (Arelate), 3d officina
DN CONSTAN TIVS PF AVG, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantius right
VIRTVS EXERCITVS, Constantius (soldier) facing holding spear and shield. TCON at exergue
4,54 gr ; 22,6 mm
Ref : RIC VII # 252, Ferrando II # 1026 (this coin), Cohen #326, RC #3993v

Q

 

I am so sorry to be this guy but how on earth do you make a thread!

 

At the top right of your screen you should have a button that says "Post New Thread."

 

Thanks a million WAM 1998 pennies!!

 

That miliarense and Siliqua are absolutely stunning, Cucumbor!
I would kill for either one of those coins!

Congrats!