I have an entirely ego-centric interest is the coins of Mars. I don't really focus on them but try and pick up slightly interesting ones when I can. Here I am looking at the issues of Constantine the Great from around A.D. 316. These coins have reverse marks of T - F // ATR or T - F // BTR. The standard MARTI CON-SERVATORI coins have Mars helmeted, in military dress, spread cloak, standing, right, looking right, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield (RIC VII Trier 108 - RIC VII Trier 114 covering a variety of Obverse legends and Bust Types). I have owned a few over the years and take their scarcity ratings with a big pinch of salt but they are generally not easy to get hold of. RIC 111 (Rated R5) RIC 114 (Rated Scarce) There is another variation that is given a separate series of RIC numbers where Mars face left instead of right (RIC VII Trier 115 - RIC VII Trier 118). These are only known from officina B and are all rated as either R4 or R5 and are generally harder to find than the head right variation. I have owned one before and have added a new one (which is the point of this post!). Again these generally have the reverse legend break MARTI CON-SERVATORI. RIC 118 (Rated R4) RIC 117 is rated R4 with 3 examples cited from Vienna and a single example which has the reverse legend break of S-E rather than N-S. Now for my new coin...... Constantine the Great, Ae Follis Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate cuirassed bust right Rev:–. MARTI CONS-ERVATORI. Mars helmeted, in military dress, spread cloak, standing, right, looking left, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Minted in Trier (T | F / BTR). A.D. 315-316 Reference:– RIC VII Trier 115 var (Reverse legend break, N-S break is R5. This reverse legend break is known from a single example in Vienna for RIC 117) 180 degree orientation There wan't enough metal in the blank to fill the head on Mars which directly corresponds to the same flat area in the middle of the cuirass on the obverse. I knw that this is a combination of minutiae that have made this stand out for me but it's sometimes these little details that are important in attribution. Regards, Martin
Very nice! I have Constantine Mars issues from Rome and now Trier. Here's the one from Trier Constantine the Great AE Follis 313 - 315 A.D., Treveri Mint, 1st Officina 4.83g, 22.0mm, 6H Obverse: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Bust of Constantine I, laureate, cuirassed, right Reverse: MARTI CON-SERVATORI, Mars, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, cloak spread, standing right, holding reversed vertical spear in right hand and resting left hand on shield Exergue: T/F//PTR Provenance: Ex. Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 2, Lot 239, Ex. TheRed Collection Reference: RIC VII Treveri 53
Here's the half follis version from Trier for Constantine with the shortened reverse of MARTI CONSERV.
That's a fascinating series. I don't thing I've ever seen the bust of Mars type before, and I wasn't aware that there is so much variety for this reverse type. Thanks for showing! I only have one Constantine with a Mars reverse. On this coin, Mars has got the physiognomy of a young Hulk Hogan, and for some reason he also decided to do minimal dressing (aka "helmet only"): Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE1 ("follis"), 309 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, cuirassed, r. Rev: MARTI PATRI CONSERVATORI; Mars, nude, helmeted, standing r., leaning on reversed spear with r. hand and placing l. hand on shield; in fields, T-F; in exergue, PTR. 27mm, 5.94g.
Actually, Mars is usually shown nude. It is often difficult to tell if a coin is depicting Mars or Virtus, and as a general rule, the figure is considered Virtus if it is wearing military dress and Mars if it is nude. Mars' military dress on the OP is unusual. And in the interest of completeness, here's a Mars similar to maridvnvm's coin just above but with a shortened legend: London mint, A.D. 307-310 RIC 108 Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: MARTI PAT-RI PROPVG - Mars, holding transverse spear and shield PLN in exergue 24 mm, 7.4 g.
I am not sure that I agree that it is considered Virtus if dressed. Virtus is female and you can identify a dreesed Virtus from a dressed Mars by the fact that Virtus will expose her right breast. Virtus:- Mars:-
Since I happen to have the picture in front of me. Here is a Tetricus I with the rare MARS VICTOR reverse from my collection. Not a particularly pretty coin, but again, the Mars-reverse is quite rare for Tetricus I
