Your Best Examples of Late Roman 4th-5th Cent. AE

CRISPUS
AE3
OBVERSE: D N FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: PROVIDEN TIAECAESS Jupiter stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, leaning on scepter, holding Victory on globe. In field to l., palm branch; in field to r., dot A; in exergue, SMN
Struck at Nicomedia 317 - 320 A.D
2.92g, 18mm
RIC VII 32

 

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Great pieces, again a thread that sharpens your eye.
Here's Maximinus II Daia, ex-Tom Cederlind:



Licinius II:



Constantinus II as caesar, Siscia 320:



Constantius II, my best FTR:



Decentius, ex-John Anthony:



Magnus Maximus, issued in Lyon:


Theodosius I, minted in Cyzicus, 388-392:



Don't forget the barbs! This is a follis following one of Constantinus II as caesar, Siscia, about 320. These Balkan celators were not at all bad celators, they took pains to copy the lettering, even if they were probably illiterate: CONSTNT INNS NN C, laureate head right / D N CONSTNNT NNNNN C, VOT/V in two lines; all within laurel wreath; •SIS•. 17mm, 2.92 gr, with some silvering.

 

You asked for the fifth century. I gave up on that century, because it was so hard to find anything decent. This is the best I have:

Marcian, Eastern Emperor (450-457), minted in Constantinopolis:

 

That’s a really nice coin! These are usually in terrible shape. It’s amazing how fast bronze coinage declined after Theodosius I died. Coins of the late 4th century in good shape are common. After 395-ish, good luck!

 

edited: Do Not place B/S/T offers in the regular forums, only in classifieds and read the additional rules there!

 

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Licinius


Constantine the not so great


Maximian


Crispus

 

@David@PCC: That's a nice example of a tougher Zeno type. It rarely shows in full but I think there is a supposed to be a reverse legend of ZENO, although I don't see a hint of it on your coin

Here's my personal favorite of a Zeno ae4:



Obv: DN ZENO SE AVG; Bust right
Rev: SE-CN; Victory advancing left, head right, holding wreath and dragging captive, a christogram in left field; all within wreath

What SECN stands for I have no idea.

 

What mint(s) made this type? Rome?

 

RIC X speculates that "The legend SE-CN is perhaps a devolved form of ZENO, which is found on the reverse of other types." (pg 120)

 

Hey VK; RIC has the mint as Constantinople, which makes sense

That was my thinking also but it's interesting the obverse legend is DN ZENO SE AVG. Perhaps the obverse legend ties in somehow to the reverse SECN.

 

@Brian Bucklan , I have one of those too:


I got it from a Kovacs fixed-price list in 1987. Later, Hahn used the photo for a plate coin in his Moneta Imperii Romani-Byzantini, The Ostprägung des Römischen Reiches in 5. Jahrhundret (408-491). Plate 14.24 (enlarged).

I, too, would welcome a good explanation of the reverse lettering.

 

I would have to delve into RIC to look further into it but Victor already has done that it looks like. Possibly the S is a field control? Mine has an S as well as CR ECNO, and not in the same direction. I showed both to Vagi years ago.


I am already so busy with anonymous persecution research and building a large Seleucid database to research these.