These late Roman bronzes have really grown on me the last couple of months. I'm really starting to appreciate them more now then when I started collecting. I picked up this Crispus from Lyons a few weeks ago from @Victor_Clark. This now puts me at 6/13 mints for PROVIDENTIAE CAESS campgates issued for Crispus. I believe only Arles and Rome minted VIRTVS CAESS types for Crispus, of which I've got Arles. So I guess I'm at 7/15 total. This one is by far the nicest. Crispus A.D. 324- 5 18mm 2.9gm FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS; camp gate with two turrets and star between them. in ex. PLG RIC VII Lyons 227 This next one came with the Crispus and it is my first coin of Licinius. Also a campgate and I think I got the attribution right with RIC VII Heraclea 17A, it might be a delta though? Did I mention this coin was free? I was very shocked opening that package to see two coins. What a great guy that Victor is! Licinius AD 317 19mm 2.6g IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, Laureate draped bust left, with globe, sceptre and mappa / PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate, three turrets, 6 to 8 layers, no doors. Mintmark MHTA The last two I got because I felt I was lacking coins from Constantine. First up another campgate, of course, with a series mark I haven't seen before. I probably just haven't paid enough attention. Constantine I 19mm, 3.16g Diademed head of Constantine right "CONSTANTINVS AVG" Campgate "PROVIDENTIAE AVGG" "ASIS (doubled "U")" RIC VII 214 Siscia Struck 328-9 This last one is pretty neat. It refers to Constantines victories over the Sarmatians in 322. Constantine 307-337 AE3, 2.50g Obv: Diademed head of Constantine right "CONSTANTINVS AVG" Rev: Victory advancing right holding a trophy, captive at her feet "SARMATIA DEVICTA". RIC VII 49 Sirmium. Struck 324-5 Please share anything you think relevant.
Great coins. I never grow tired of campgates and all the varieties they come in, and the Sarmatia type is one of the few LRB's that refer to a specific historical occurrence, although we know little about it. Here are a couple of mine... Crispus of Trier with cool patina... SARMATIA DEVICTA of Sirmium...
LRBs are great. Wonderful and interesting coins can be had for modest sums of money. I also think it is an interesting time to study so there's plenty of meat to keep a collector interested. I love the campgates as well. It's sort of a sub collection for me...that I haven't expanded lately. Some of mine: Constantine I, AD 306-337 AE, 18mm, 2.7g; 6h; Sirmium, AD 324-325 Obv.: CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate bust right Rev.: SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing right, holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive seated on ground to right In Ex.: SIRM Crispus Caesar, AD 317-326 Ӕ Follis, 18m, 3.1g, 6h; London mint, AD 318 Obv.: FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Rev.: PRINCIPIA I-VVENTVTIS; Crispus standing right in military dress, holding spear and shield, crescent in left field In Ex.: PLN Constantine I, AD 309 - 337 AE3, 2.5g, 19mm; 1h; Siscia mint, AD 328-329 Obv.: CO[NST]AN-TIN[V]S AVG, diademed head right Rev.: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with two turretts, star above, 9 brick rows with dots in top row In Ex.: ΓSTS (crescent)* *I called it a crescent because I don't know any better.
Great coins! I think you're right with double crescent. I was just going with the dealers info but I think RIC puts double crescent. Probably why I've never heard of double U series mark haha
That particular coin is one of my earlier ones - in fact a gift from @John Anthony and @Bing that I'm still grateful for. (Thanks again guys!) I take complete blame for any errors in the description and welcome any feedback or corrections. (This goes for any of my coins.)
Dang No. 1 is really nice!! This is probably my nicest late Roman Bronze. Roman Empire Croatia, Siscia Arcadius (r. AD 383-408) AE4 13.5 mm x 1.22 grams (s. AD 384-387) Obv. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Arcadius right. Latin script- DN ARCADIVS PF AVG Rev. Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm. Latin Script- VICTORIA AVGGG - BSIS in ex. Ref: RIC IX 39d
Here's a quote from Zosimus about the Sarmatian campaign-- “When Constantine learned that the Sarmatians, who live near Lake Maeotis, had sailed across the Danube and were pillaging his territory, he led his army against them…he killed many, took more prisoners and put the rest to flight.” Zosimus 2:21
Nice coins @Ajax. CRISPUS Follis OBVERSE: CRISPVS NOB CAES, Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind REVERSE: PRINCIPIA IVVENTVTIS, Mars, naked except for helmet and boots, chlamys flying out behind, advancing right holding transverse spear and shield. R-S across fields, QARL in ex. Struck at Arles , 317AD 2.27g, 18mm. RIC VII 129 LICINIUS I AE3 Follis OBVERSE: IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding globe, sceptre & mappa REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with three turrets, no door, delta in right field SMHA in ex. Struck at Heraclea 318-320 AD 3.0g, 18mm RIC VII 48 CONSTANTINE I AE3 Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, diademed head right REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets & no doors, star above, GSISdouble-crescent in ex. Struck at Siscia 328-9 AD 3.3g, 19mm RIC VII 215G CONSTANTINE I AE Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: SARMATIA DEVICTA, Victory advancing right, holding trophy on right arm, branch in left hand, spurning captive seated on ground right, head turned back, STR(cresent) in ex (unpublished mintmark). Struck at Trier, workshop S, 323-4 AD 2.8g, 19.4mm RIC 435v
Nice-looking coins! Collecting LRBCs is fun because of all the different mints and issues. Here are a few from my collection: Licinius II, Antioch, RIC 29 Crispus, Siscia, RIC 165 Constantine II, Heraclea, RIC 96
Super nice OP Crispus. One of the best I have ever seen. I find the type with Victory holding up a trophy made from pieces of armor to be very interesting. Are there other types where Victory holds up a trophy versus it being planted in the ground? That type of trophy would weigh 100 pounds, she must be a pretty buff woman.
There is another coin with the same reverse, but different legend- ALAMANNIA DEVICTA. It commemorates the victories on the Rhine of Crispus and Constantine II and was only struck for them, and only in Sirmium.
Very nice coins all. I've got several Arcadius with the campgate as well as the cross type, a couple are in good condition, as in VF.