I'm not sure which word would apply to this coin as to why I got it; Wabi-sabi, minutiae or maybe even babalaas (A very bad hangover). It's a quite colorful bronze with a less than perfect strike, an obv. with a more direct view on the right shoulder, a great portrait, a more crude/simple horseman/horse than my other example,with a strange, long leg of the horse and of the soldier (a main factor that drew me to this coin) as well as a bit on the heavier side at 6.8g. I wonder if the long curvy leg of the soldier was to cover up an accident with the legend, or perhaps just and accident in itself or sloppy/rushed work. Constantius II DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG Constantius II pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO soldier spearing Horseman, bearded, bare-headed, reaching, reaching ALEΓ in ex. Γ in left field Alexandria 72 var (headwear) For comparison, another FH from the same mint/officina. I also added a decent hut to my collection, giving me 10/13 mints for my set. Constans AE3, D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left, globe in right hand. / FEL TEMP REPA-RATIO, Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points downwards, between the soldier's legs. Star in upper left field. Mintmark SMNA. Nicomedia RIC VIII 72
I suspect the dies for your new coin were cut by the same 'hand' as mine but I have no explanation for that leg.
I've got over 50 of these babies and it's fun to compare the reverses across the range of differing mints across the empire. No two are alike. I've also got one FEL TEMP REPARATIO with the radiate phoenix bird on the reverse, which is much less common then the fallen horseman type.
In the beginning there were three denominations of the FTR coins. The Phoenix was the smallest and was soon discontinued as inflation caused the largest of the three to shrink to a fraction of its original size. The Phoenix comes in two versions: On a globe and on a mound of rocks. Constans Arles Constans Siscia Globes also come with tall birds. Are there tall birds on pile of rocks coins? Constantius II Constantinople
There is also a variation that looks like a rocky nest from Rome, though rare. You should remember it, you took the picture.
Thanks for the lesson on the radiate phoenix coins, didn't know they were more from the beginning of the run of FTR coins. The one I have is fairly small, too. Any idea what you could buy with one of these coins? To my knowledge, the purchasing power of LRB coins is poorly understood. I'm thinking back to the time of Diocletian's edict of maximum prices, which is kind of instructive. But the coinage had changed so much by the time of Constantius that attempts to figure out what one could purchase with one, or several of these coins seems to be unknown.
Thanks all! I kind of think so as well. If so, then he definitely improved his kills. Thanks. Yes, the gamma in the field looks a bit sloppy and the one in the ex looks a little short. Be sure to post some once you get a chance.
I'm not sure there's a relationship between the FH's and the discontinuation of the Phoenix types. It's my understanding that the Phoenix coins were struck to commemorate Rome's 1100th birthday. As commemorative issues, their emission was probably intentionally brief.
Ahhh, yes, Failmezger 413cCS. How could I forget? As I understand the theory, they believe (not know) that the large ones were units, the left facing ones (of any reverse) were halves and the Phoenix was on the quarter. There is some silver in the first, less in the second and none in the third size if I remember correctly. I have no idea what you could buy in 247 and suspect it was less and less each year as the value of the coinage was failing throughout the time that FTR coins were issued.
