Constantine

So this is my first post in the Ancients forum,
Thanks, for having me. I hope.
I Purchased, a few Constantine's. The first one slabbed.
Not because I necessarily like them but, that they are aplenty. The first one I have been told was a Campgate, 330 AD. I am not sure about the door positioning? As you can see there is a lot of corrosion, patina on this coin. I am not really a fan of this look. The one thing I like about this one, is how centered it was struck.


The second is another Constantine, Other than it was marked 337 AD I have no Idea. I like the smooth surfaces and strong details.
One of these days I will have to update my library, as I believe these ancients will turn up in my collecting habits.
Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.

 

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Welcome to the darkside ^_^

You should be able to i.d. these here if you want to take a stab at it:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/t.html

 

Your first coin is


Constantine I
A.D. 326- 328
CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; laureate head.
PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG; camp gate with two turrets and star between them.
in ex. SMTS(?)
RIC VII Thessalonica 153


There is question mark because I can’t make out the workshop; but it must be either, A, B, Γ, E or Δ. There should also be a • in the right field, under the corrosion.

And the second is

Constantine I
A.D. 333-335
CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; rosette-diadem, draped, cuirassed bust right.
GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS; Two soldiers helmeted, stg. facing one another, reversed spear in outer hands, inner hands on shields resting on the ground; between them two standards.
In ex. CONSH•
RIC VII Constantinople 73

here is an ID link
http://www.catbikes.ch/coinstuff/coins-ric.htm

 

Glad to see you take the plunge Phil.
I vaguely recall the campgate. But I don't remember if you showed me the soldiers & standards if you showed either.
My collecting is really pre Constantine but I have a few.
I do like your second, nice start.

 

It feels good to live on the darkside,

Thanks for the Id's,
I will look them up.
Is there any online text.
That I can look up myself?

 

Wildwinds is pretty good I use it quite a bit.
Just click on Romans by emporer, then find the letter in the alphabet for your coin hit go and start Hunting.
Vcoins is another good site.

 

Glad you let me Know it was a campgate.
I have been looking to take the plunge for a while,
Don't forget that, they really do call it the dark side for a reason, sometimes you don't go back! I really like my Us coins though.

 

Are there any good references, paperback?

 

heres a couple

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/book.html

 

I still have mine. Sometimes I still add to it.
I did both forums for Santa this year. Who ever mine was sent me a pretty nice ancient. I really wasn't expecting that.

You'll like the dark side. Never a dull moment.

 

I've noticed

 

Welcome, Pickin and Grinin => congrats on scoring yourself a couple of pretty cool ancients

Yah, I totally agree that modern coins are still kinda fun to collect, but ancients will eventually suck you in big-time, consume your days with coin research and deplete you of all your liquid coin-cash

=> Sign-up today!!

 

Decent first Ancients. I like to think of our side as the enlightened side. Have some fun!

 

Cool coins @Pickin and Grinin !!

Just enjoy the adventure!! All ancient coins have so much to tell us ...and discovering just what that is is half the fun.

BTW: Inexpensive little paperback books like "ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN COIN" by Klawans and Bresset are handy and convenient reference(s) for someone starting out too.

 

It ain't cheap, but trust me, it's what a beginning collector of early 4th century bronze is looking for:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1932109...ails?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1482070154&sr=8-1

 

.

 

Don't remember if I showed you this campgate or not.
The star is there on the reverse. Since this pic was taken I've cleaned some of the gunk that was hiding it.

I don't think I have soldiers & standards reverse of Constantine.
Didn't you say you had a Sol reverse Phil?
Mine is a crappy example, have no pics of it. It was my 2nd or 3rd ancient purchase.

 

Yeah, your not joking. Definitely pricey.

 

What does the Sol rev. look like?

 

I was thinking you PM'd about a Sol also. Been a hell of a few weeks & memory well its never been that great.
I remember you hadn't photo'd any of them was going off description.
Usually its Sol a guy god with one arm reaching up say 11 o'clock on reverse kinda looks like wearing a headdress.

Somebody here has to have a photo or better descriptive skills than I.