Wanna see some nice later Romans?

Nothing super special but I managed to score a couple of attractive Constantine coins recently, I think it was close to $20 together. Didn't have a SOLI from Lugdunum before, and neither did I have an "eyes to heaven type". As I stated before they look pretty good but my eyes to heaven coin even more so; I find it hard to take my own eyes off of it (it is my new favorite coin ). The well-styled and well-preserved bust of Constantine is the best part of the coin for me. I personally think that, despite some opinion to the contrary, the bust facing upwards does reference his vision in 312 that spurred him to victory over Maxentius. I don't know of any other Roman coins with busts like that but if there aren't, why only do it for Constantine?





A few patches of silvering left on the 1st coin. A couple of small ones as well on the reverse but I was too lazy to point those out.



Sol levitating his globe. Is he a Jedi?!?!



(BTW I was looking at Constantine's WW page and man, Dane or whoever wrote the top paragraph sure has a thing against him; its basically pure vitriol. Such stuff I feel is more suited for a blog and not a scholarly site like WW. )

 

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I'm assuming that is a quote from an ancient source(?). Whomever wrote it really had an axe to grind!

BTW, excellent coins. Nice Star Wars reference too!

 

Nice additions! I don't have an "eyes to heaven" but here's a couple from Constantine I would like to share:


Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE, follis, 3.51g, 20.5mm; 12h; Trier mint, AD 332-333
Obv.: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; helmeted, cuirassed bust right
Rev.: BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX above, three stars
In Ex.: dot PTR dot
Ex. Langtoft hoard


Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE, follis, 3.02g, 19mm; 6h; Siscia, AD 319
Obv.: IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate, helmeted, and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: VICT LAETAE PRINC PERP; two victories standing, facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT/PR on altar with S
In. Exe.: dot ЄSIS dot

 

Umm...here's another I don't think I've ever posted before:


Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE, Follis, 4.48g, 22mm; 6h; Rome, AD 312-313
Obv.: IMP CONSTANTNVS PF AVG; laureate draped bust right, seen from behind
Rev.: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI; legionary eagle between two vexilla
In Ex.: R P

 

Nice!

 

Lol... I hadn't read the Constantine bio on Wildwinds before, but that's almost certainly Dane. I don't know why, but she despises him with a passion .

Excellent scores for the price, @ValiantKnight !

 

That blurb on Constantine may very well be Dane's. It's not inaccurate, but it is very one-sided, and some of it is pure conjecture. Which ancient source tells us that Constantine was jealous of Crispus and the charges were trumped up? My understanding is that the details are so vague it's impossible to draw conclusions. Calling Constantine "vain and self-important" tells us nothing. Name me one Roman emperor that wasn't vain and self-important.

But this brings up another issue. I googled that entire paragraph and found it sprinkled all over the web, mostly on sites selling coins. Nobody cites a source. Simply copying and pasting information you find on the web without citing sources is intellectually vapid and deplorable. Most people will read something over and over again on a few different sites, and by sheer repetition, somebody's opinion becomes "fact." Question everything.

 

Love the portrait on the Vota coin

 

I have a several more from from Constantine...mind if I share the rest?
What can I say...I like LRBs!

Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE3, 20mm, 3.3g, 1h; Aquileia mint, AD 320-321.
Obv.: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; Laureate head right.
Rev.: DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG surrounding VOT XX enclosed in laurel wreath,
mint mark ·AQP·
This one has a nice over sized flan with a glossy green patina.


Constantine I, AD 309 - 337
AE3, 2.5g, 19mm; 1h; Siscia mint, AD 328-329
Obv.: CO[NST]AN-TIN[V]S AVG, diademed head right
Rev.: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with two turretts, star above, 9 brick rows with dots in top row
In Ex.: ΓSTS (crescent)
Hard to pick favorites but the one above really fired a passion in me and it was a gift from two fellow CoinTalkers! Thanks a bunch guys! This one is black toned with a very glossy patina. It interesting to me because of the size of the campgate and the crescent with the mint mark.


Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE, Follis, 2.95g, 23mm; 6h; Alexandria
Obv.: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; laureate (pearl diademed?) head right
Rev.: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG; campgate with two turrets and star above, six rows, no doors
In Ex.: SMALB
Ex. Rick Morton Capitoline Collection
Crisp and well detailed. Has a pleasing rusty color in hand and is one I will reshoot when I get home next month (traveling).


Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE, 2.5g, 18mm; 6h; Ticinum, AD 320-321
Obv.: CONSTAN-TI MAX AVG; laureate head right
Rev.: DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG; Within wreath with dot in badge at top: VOT / (dot) / X X / (crescent)
In Ex.: ST
No exact matches in Wildwinds, similar to Thessalonica RIC VII 123 & Ticinum RIC VII 140.S
Among my first ancient purchase which was a group lot. This picture captures the dusty appearance of this coin in hand. A bargain at less than $6!


Constantine I, AD 306 - 337
AE, 1.3g, 16mm; 5h; Nicomedia, AD 336-337
Obv.: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; diademed draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: GLOR-IAEXERC-ITVS; two soldiers standing front, heads turned inward facing one standard between them each holding spear and shield
In Ex.: SMNΔ
Another from my first ancient purchase lot. Still a bargain at less than $6! I am also a sucker for the Glory to the Military types.


Constantine I
AE, 1.72g, 15.5mm; 7h; Cyzicus, AD 347-348
Obv: DV CONSTANTINVS P T AVGG; veiled head right
Rev.: VN-MR; Constantine standing right, dot
In Ex.: SMKB
Ref.: Cyzicus RIC VIII 54
Reference reports a dot In Ex. but this coin's flan is chipped there. Wildwinds also reports VN MR is rare for this mint.


Constantine I
AE, follis, 3.2g, 16.5mm; 6h; Trier, AD 330-335
Obv.: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: GLOR-IAEXERC-[ITVS]; two soldiers standing facing each other, each holding spear and resting hand on shield, palm branch between two standards, Os on standards
In Ex.: TRS
What can I say? Sucker for these...


Constantine I, AD 306 - 337
AE3, 2.95g, 19mm; 5h; Thessalonica mint
Obv.: CONSTAN-TINUS AVG; laureate head right
Rev.: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG; campgate, 6 layers, no doors, two turrets, star above, dot in right field
In Ex.: SMTSA
Ref.: Thessalonica RIC VII 153
This one is a little rough but has plenty of character with good details and a cool provenance!

Well that's it. I'm spent. Hope you don't mind me bombing your thread with these guys.

 

Great coins. I just have this.


Constantine (307 - 337 A.D.)
AE3
O:CONSTANTINVS AVG, diademed head right, ladder-shaped diadem with dots in segments
R: DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG around VOT XXX in wreath, dot SMHA in ex.
Heraclea Mint 326 - 327 A.D.
19mm
2.8g
RIC VII 90

 

Those colors!

 

Shame on me I forgot one


Time of Constantine I, AD 306 - 337
EA, 1.7g, 19mm; 6h; Thessalonica, Greece
Obv.: CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS; bust left, laur. helmet, wearing imperial cloak, reversed spear
Rev.: Victory standing left on prow holding spear and shield
In Ex.: SMTS⌂
Ref: NOT IN RIC, unlisted officinal - ⌂. For THESSALONICA 229 and 230 the weight range is 1.2g - 2g. the average weight being 1.52g. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/notinric/7the230_d.html
For a fascinating article see http://esty.ancients.info/CON/CONSTANTINOPOLIS.html

 

So is your green one with VN-MR. That coin has all the right qualities

 

Superb posts!!!! And a few highly scarce issues as well!

Recently, I acquired my first 'eyes to heaven' type....surprisingly affordable based on the historical retail info that I came across.

 

Well there's another Constantine I would like to have! That reverse!

 

I have several Constantine I coins. I have some well detailed coins, but this one from Thessalonica is one of my favorites mainly because of the style of portrait:

CONSTANTINE I
AE2 Follis
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding globe & sceptre, wreath left, E right, dot SM dot TS dot in ex.
Struck at Thessalonica 312-313 AD
5.5g, 26mm
RIC VI 50b

 

Constantine DAFNE: http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/DAFNE/

A bit common, prices are everywhere. Almost bought one a few times myself but didn't.

 

What a very interesting resource, thanks for sharing! I'll read it later...I'm undertaking an OCD chore right now. I have a good thing going and can't interrupt it for learning stuff.

 

Like to see coins with great details, as old as there are.

 

Just a group of Constantine types that may be of interest to some and will bore others. I repeat the opinion that people who can not study history of people that they wouldn't invite over for dinner probably should take up another hobby. The vast majority of Roman Emperors were giant jerks by modern standards. Byzantines were, if anything, worse. I'm not terribly fond of quite a few of the US Presidents but we are collecting coins and studying coins of these people not marrying them into our families. From what I have read, the WW blurb is probably close. One does not take over the world and become the biggest name in a history of several hundred big names without being 'efficient'. Constantine was good at what he did and died a natural death. You have to award a few points for that last one.