It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an ancient but here’s a good one. If I am correct it was minted during the time of Constantine I in order to honor the city of Rome. The reverse has a she-wolf suckling Remus and Romulus. It’s a common coin with a very popular reverse. The coin is very well struck and in a somewhat higher grade. Time of Constantine I and Sons Trier Mint, 332-333 Obv.:VRBS ROMA; Roma left, helmeted, Wearing imperial cloak Rev.: Wolf to left, duckling Remus and Romulus, two stars above // TRS star
Nice @Collecting Nut ! She-Wuffs! Rome VRBS ROMA commem 330-331 CE Æ reduced centenionalis, 16mm, 2.5g, 12h; Trier mint, CE 330-331 She-wolf RIC VII 529 Left RI commem AE Follis Urbs ROMA She-wolf Rom Rem Stars RIC VII Lyons242 Left RI Commem Urbs Roma AE Follis Thessalonika 330-333 CE She-Wolf Rom-Rem stars S 16516R Left
The VRBS ROMA was merely a small nod to Rome, as Constantine was turning Constantinople into his capitol. Constantine's neglect of the Western Empire was a direct contribution to its fall in less that 150 years after these VRBS ROMA coins were issued. here is an example that I recently got, that has a wreath on the left shoulder VRBS ROMA A.D. 330- 331 Ӕ nummus 16x17mm 2.0g VRBS ROMA; Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak. REV.; She-wolf left suckling twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars. In ex. SLG RIC VII Lyon 242 this is the only example that I know of with Roma wearing a decorated helmet VRBS ROMA A.D. 332- 333 17mm 2.5g VRBS-ROMA; Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak; helmet decorated with a palm branch (or feather) and a volute on the bowl. Rev.- She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars. In ex. TR•S RIC VII Trier 542 This rarer type was struck in Rome under Constantine II during the three month interregnum after the death of Constantine I. VRBS ROMA BEATA A.D. 337 17mm 2.0g Obv. VRBS ROMA BEATA; helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, wreath between two stars. In ex. branch R Q branch RIC VIII Rome 55
VRBS ROMA is a very historical type. It is common, but that does not make it less interesting--just less expensive. After you get one you like you can go for interesting varieties. @Victor_Clark showed some above. The first one is just a nice example. Unusual for having much original silvering. "S R" either side of the stars on the reverse. A Christian chi-rho between the stars. A mule with the reverse belonging to CONSTANTINOPOLIS. GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse. This does not exhaust the list of interesting VRBS ROMA varieties. They are fun to collect! Show us some more!
