This recent arrival is a triple-box checker for me... Box #1 : An issue of Constantius I as Augustus. Much less common than his Caesar issues, and I didn't have one. Box #2 : His portrait with beard curls. There's very little by way of distinctive features to be found on portraits of the Tetrarchs, so I find issues of Constantius showing curls in his beard an interesting exception. Box #3 : A First Tetrarchy campgate. Just because I've always wanted one of these classic silver originals of a design that would become extremely common in bronze later. The argenteus was a high purity silver coin, with an average silver content in the neighbourhood of 93% (as good as Nero's denarii prior to his debasing them in AD 64). They were minted in large quantities for the better part of 15 years, circa AD 294-310, but being introduced into an economy that hadn't seen a decent silver coin struck in 40 years led to them being very quickly hoarded. As a result, you'd be hard-pressed to find them well-worn from circulation, whereas those looking minty fresh like this one are fairly common. In spite of this "flaw", I still can't help liking it . Do feel free to share your argentei, coins of Constantius I, and your campgates. CONSTANTIUS I AR Argenteus. 3.35g, 19.6mm. Serdica mint, circa AD 305-306. RIC 11a (R4), unlisted officina Γ=3. O: CONSTANTIVS AVG, laureate head right. R: VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted campgate with seven layers and no doors; .SM.SDΓ. in exergue. Note: Rare unlisted officina (Γ). RIC lists only officina A for Constantius, though plate coin shows it is in fact Δ.
A highly desirable coin for so many reasons. I have been tempted many time but never taken the plunge with an argenteus. Congratulations.
Gosh I didn't even knew these were out there! Very cool! I'll toss up a few humble bronze camp gates shortly...
Wowza, Z! What a super coin! It looks mintier than most of my pocket change I have nothing remotely like it to share here. Maybe someday Edited: I guess I do have some things remotely like it-- non-argentus campgates. I'd like one with doors but for now I have a handful of the common types. Constantine I, RIC VII Antioch 84, SMANTE Constantine I, RIC VII Antioch 63, SMANT, Δ-E across fields (9th officina; to avoid the "unlucky" theta, this officina used delta + epsilon, 4 + 5)
How about one from his son? Constantine I, AD 306-337 AE, 19mm, 2.3g; 6h; Arles, AD 325-326 Obv.: CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate head right Rev.: VIRTVS-S AVGG; campgate with 4 turrets, 5 layers, star above, open panelled doors In Ex.: PA (crescent) RL
Argentei are highly desirable and this one is no exception. And you're right @zumbly, finding one with distinctive features is tricky. I made my way with the following (Caesar and not Augustus though) that I bought 15 years ago, and in my top ten coins since Constantius, Argenteus Antioch mint, 8th officina, c. AD 296-297 CONSTANTIVS CAESAR, Laureate head of Constantius right VIRTVS MILITVM, Campgate, *ANTH* at exergue 3.40 gr Ref : Cohen #318, RCV # 13966 (1100) Q
Thanks! I'll be interested to see the one you eventually choose. There's not a great variety of reverse types for these, but I find them all interesting for their own reasons.
Now that you mention it, the average argenteus is the right size and does look a lot like pocket change. Now, if only they didn't cost the entire contents of my wallet and more .
Here's a provincial Constantius with a generic portrait typical of that era at the Alexandrian mint. EGYPT, Alexandria. Constantius I year 1, CE 292/3 potin tetradrachm, 19 mm, 6.7 gm Obv: ΦΛAKωCTANTIOCK; laureate draped bust right Rev: Elpis standing left, holding flower, raising hem; L - Α Ref: Emmett 4185(3), R3; Milne 5165 Translation and expansion of legend abbreviations: ΦΛA(OVIOC) KωCTANTIOC K(AICAP) Flavius Constantius Caesar L A year 1
Excellent! A nice open-door campgate continues to elude me. There are open-door argentei campgate as well, but like their bronze brethren, they're on the scarcer side. Q, yours is one of the best I've ever seen and I always enjoy your showing it!
Wow, Z-bro => that's an amazing AR Constantius-I (congrats, I'm totally jealous) ... sadly, all I have is this AE example of the dude ...
And I'm jealous of that sharp, spear-carrying bust on that one! I have a couple of his AEs as well. Pre-Reform, Antoninianus... CONSTANTIUS I Rare. AE Antoninianus. 3.73g, 24.8mm. Lugdunum mint, AD 295. RIC 648A; Cohen 302. O: CONSTANTIVS NOB C, radiate and draped right. R: VIRTVS AVGG, Trophy of arms with two captives seated at base; B in exergue. Ex M. Römhild Collection Post-Reform, Follis... CONSTANTIUS I AE Follis. 9.36g, 28.7mm, Ticinum mint, AD 300-303. RIC VI 46a. O: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right. R: SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia; TT dot in exergue. Anyone have a Divus issue to post?
Beautiful OP coin. CONSTANTIUS I AE Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Laurate bust, right REVERSE: SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Star in right field. Mintmark RT Struck at Rome 302-303 AD 8.8g, 27mm RIC VI 106a CONSTANTIUS I AE Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right (large head type) REVERSE: SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthago standing facing, head left, in long robe, holding fruits in both hands. Mintmark Gamma Struck at Carthage 298-299 AD 7.41g, 28mm RIC VI 32a
Divo Constantius, Follis Posthumous issue under the reign of his son Constantine the great Trier mint, 1st officina, c. AD 307-309 DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO, laureate, cuirassed and veiled bust of Constantius right MEMORIA FELIX, large altar between two eagles. PTR at exergue 5,62 gr, 26 mm Ref : RCV # 16420 (200), Cohen # 179, RIC VI # 789 Q
Fantastic argenteus!!!! Love them both @zumbly and @Cucumbor !! I haven't been able to grab that silver variety at all yet (my example is a 'Genio' follis), but I'm always in the hunt....usually after I've already 'obligated' my coin budget on a Greek or RR type LOL
Constantius I Chlorus Obv:- DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO, Laureate, bust right Rev:– CONSECRATIO, Eagle standing up with head up and wings spread on altar Minted in Lugdunum (PLG in exe.). Summer A.D. 307 to Summer A.D. 308 Reference:– RIC VI Lugdunum 251 (Scarce). Bastien XI 436 (4 examples cited) Weight 6.96 gms. Constantius I Chlorus Obverse Legend – DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO. Laureate, veiled and cuirassed head right Reverse Legend – MEMORIA FELIX. Lighted altar; eagle to left and right Minted in Lugdunum (PLC). Autumn A.D. 307 - Summer A.D. 308 Reference:- RIC VI Lugdunum 264 (Scarce). Bastien XI 499
I only have one Constantius I Chlorus and it is a Quinarius: Roman Empire Constantius I Chlorus 293-306 CE DIVO AE Quinarius Thesalonika 317-318 Seated RIC VII 25 R5 RARE