Constantius I Campgate

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by zumbly, Nov 11, 2016.

  1. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    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 :D.

    Do feel free to share your argentei, coins of Constantius I, and your campgates.

    upload_2016-11-11_16-19-11.png
    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.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2016
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  3. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    A highly desirable coin for so many reasons.
    I have been tempted many time but never taken the plunge with an argenteus.
    Congratulations.
     
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  4. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    Gosh I didn't even knew these were out there! Very cool! I'll toss up a few humble bronze camp gates shortly...
     
  5. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Wowza, Z! What a super coin! It looks mintier than most of my pocket change :D

    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.

    [​IMG]
    Constantine I, RIC VII Antioch 84, SMANTE

    [​IMG]
    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)
     
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  6. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    How about one from his son?

    [​IMG]
    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
     
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  7. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    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

    [​IMG]
    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
     
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  8. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    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.
     
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  9. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    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 :eek:.
     
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  10. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Here's a provincial Constantius with a generic portrait typical of that era at the Alexandrian mint.

    [​IMG]
    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
     
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  11. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    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!
     
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  12. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

    TIF's coin made me realize I don't have a coin from Constantius!
     
  13. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    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 ...


    constantius1a.jpg constantius1b.jpg

    :rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2016
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  14. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    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...
    upload_2016-11-11_21-29-56.png
    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...
    upload_2016-11-11_21-31-2.png
    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?
     
  15. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Beautiful OP coin.
    Constantius I 2.jpg
    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 3.jpg
    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
     
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  16. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]
    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
     
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  17. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    Whao!!! Thats hella minty!
     
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  18. Eng

    Eng Senior Eng

    Wow Z, super coin,looks like it was made last week!!sweet coin...:)
     
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  19. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Fantastic argenteus!!!!:wideyed: Love them both @zumbly and @Cucumbor !!:woot:

    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
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2016
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  20. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    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.

    [​IMG]

    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

    [​IMG]
     
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  21. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I only have one Constantius I Chlorus and it is a Quinarius:

    upload_2016-11-11_9-58-36.png
    Roman Empire
    Constantius I Chlorus 293-306 CE
    DIVO
    AE Quinarius
    Thesalonika 317-318
    Seated
    RIC VII 25 R5 RARE
     
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