Constantius Gallus - FEL TEMP - Fallen Horseman

I have just added another FEL TEMP - Fallen Horseman to my hoard. It is a quite okeasing example and turns out to be possibly quite scarce as a bonus.

Constantius Gallus - AE2

Obv:– DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right (D behind bust)
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is wearing a Phrygian cap, falling forward clutching his horse.
Minted in Rome (Gamma | _ // RE), 26th September A.D. 352 - 6th November A.D. 355. Third Series
Reference:– RIC VIII Rome 265 var (Listed for P and S both of which are Rated R, Dane Kueth (Helvetica) has a matching coin with E from different dies)



Martin

 

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Where do you find all these nice coins? Even good detail on the horse.

 

Whoa, that is a total winner, Martin ... Doug will be jealous of that baby!



=> The huge foot is definitely what I love most about your fantastic new OP-score!!

 

That is a real winner. I only have one Gallus from Rome from the earlier B series. This might be a good place to mention that Rome marched to a different drummer on the question of workshop designations combining the Western series starting with P for Primus but then going to B (beta) for the second pushing the S from the expected #2 to #6 (which is what mine is below if you accept RIC's listing that these only come from higher numbers for Gallus. PBTQESZ is the series with red in Greek and green for ordinals. Weird!


The common ones are B obverse with the wreath after the R in exergue. Below are Constantius II examples from P, T and Q.

 

Martin that is stunning.

 

There is a shield on the ground next to the normal foot. The shield was dropped by the barbarian (the Roman still carries his) and is shown in variuos orientations on the ground. The Thessalonika below shows it upright between the soldier's legs. Look at a few hundred of these coins and you will see many variations.

Martin's coin does show the tassel/tie on one of the soldier's boots. This is the smallest coin I have seen them on. Earlier AE2 coins are more likely to show them. The Constantinople below has them.

 

Martin, that's a gorgeous example!! Looks ancient but with exceptional eye-appeal and fantastic details!!

I'd LOVE to have it!!

 

I agree/ coin has wonderfull detail, neat design! I too would love to add it to my collection.

 

An awesome score for sure, would like one myself. I've got only 3 of Gallus and none from Rome. Hers my best FH from Rome

 

Thanks Mentor ... I was merely trying to be funny (apparently sometimes I'm not that funny)

=> I have an example from Constantius-II (with an even bigger foot)





... but Martin's cool example still does kinda look like a big foot, eh?





Martin => again, that's a great OP-coin

 

That's not a foot. That's a mirror. Remember that originally these coins were silvered. A Roman holding this coin could easily see his or her image in the coin right below the soldier's foot. This was done deliberately to remind the average Roman how powerful the military was compared to the average citizen, and to discourage people from considering reducing the military budget.

 

Somewhere between Roman times and today, people gained the feeling that the army would remain loyal to the commanders or the state just because they swore an oath saying they would. Cutting the military budget rarely struck the Romans as a good idea. Promising soldiers extra 'benefits' and failing to come through as advertised never worked out all that well either (ask Didius Julianus). Telling soldiers that the day would soon come when the huge army would no longer be needed and making them do menial labor when not fighting worked poorly (ask Probus). For much of the later empire, the only ballot box that was counted was the one with the most knives. As soldiers became decreasingly loyal to the state and increasingly to their generals and as more and more of them were recruited from people who were not remotely Roman, things were bound to change.

 

I take CT for responsible of my expenses !
Well, some of them...

Because of this thread, I've put myself in the position of buying, earlier today, one of the most appealing FEL TEMP falling horseman struck for Constantius II that I've ever seen. For obvious reason I won't show it before it's at home safe and sound (fate hasn't to be tempted)

So, thank you Martin !!
Q

 

Sorry Q!

 

No problem, I can deal with that

Q

 

We have a very unusual situation in the fourth century. There are many different types of coins and most of them are somewhat boring people standing there or titles in wreaths. There are some rather splashy types but these are the most common types of the century and, as such, beneath the notice of many high end collectors. Imagine the high demand for a rare coin showing a soldier killing a horseman or dragging a kid out of a hut. Imagine a better bird than a Phoenix standing on a globe or funeral pyre. Consider a hard to find coin showing a soldier dragging a captive by the hair. Collectors tend to want things everyone wants but not everyone can have. When there are enough for all to have, many don't want theirs. We are a funny lot.

 

I wouldn't say boring. The entire Fel Temp series is pretty interesting. They're just not impressive as a 1st-2nd century bronze. The feel of a 4th century coin in your hand, even an AE1 of Julian or Jovian, just doesn't compare to the feel of a sestertius.

As I typed this I started thinking about the Gloria Romanorum and Securitas Republicae series of Valentinian and Valens. . . Yeah, you're right. Boring.

 

These Falling Horsemen types have really grown on me. Adding one to the endless list

 

Most people select a coin by grade but I am most impressed by style. My favorite Falling Horseman is the Amiens (Ambianum). Few people know that Jay Leno was a coin model before he took up comedy.

 

WOW, Martin! VERY nice! Thanks for posting it.

I have one, but you NAILED it!


RI Constantius Gallus 351-354 CE Fallen Horseman