Tetrarchal surface-silvering

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Valentinian, Jul 4, 2020.

  1. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    The radiate aureliani (antoniniani) of Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius, and Galerius originally had surface silvering. In many cases it is long gone and the coins look like copper. But, sometimes much or all of the silvering is still there.

    MaximianVICTORIAAVGG2056.jpg

    Maximian, 286-305, silvered. 23 mm. 3.90 grams.
    IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P AVG
    radiate head right
    VICTORIA AVGG
    Diocletian standing on right presenting Victory on globe to Maximian on left
    XXI in exergue. No officina number in the field.
    RIC V.II --, but similar to 586, of Siscia, which has an officina number in the middle field. Struck "291".
    Sear IV 13179v.

    Show us some late Roman coins with surface-silvering!
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Nice example, @Valentinian !

    I don't have any radiates from the period with silvering, but these three folles have quite a bit of silvering left:

    [​IMG]
    Constantius I, Caesar, 293-305.
    Roman billon follis, 9.83 g, 26.3 mm, 5 h.
    Antioch, AD 300-301.
    Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right.
    Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; K/B-V//ANT.
    Refs: RIC vi, p. 620, 55a; Cohen 89; RCV 14069.
    Notes: The K in the left field probably refers to the retariffing of the follis at 20 denarii communes, while the V in the right field may refer to the revised valuation of the follis at 5 to the silver argentius (Harl, Kenneth W. "Marks of Value on Tetrarchic Nummi and Diocletian's Monetary Policy." Phoenix, vol. 39, no. 3, 1985, pp. 263–270, citing C.H.V. Sutherland, "Denarius and Sestertius in Diocletian's Currency Reform," JRS 51 (1961), pp. 93-97).

    [​IMG]
    Maximian, 1st Reign, AD 286-305.
    Roman billon follis, 10.96 g, 27.2 mm, 12 h.
    Trier, AD 298-99.
    Obv: IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head, right.
    Rev: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude but for chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; A/*//TR.
    Refs: RIC vi, p. 186, 277b.
    Notes: Typically, the reverse legend is broken GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI.

    [​IMG]
    Galerius as Caesar, AD 293-305.
    Roman silvered billon follis, 8.62 g, 27.2 mm, 6 h.
    Trier, AD 302-3.
    Obv: MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C, laureate and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing facing, head left, wearing modius, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae; S/F//IITR.
    Refs: RIC vi, p. 196, 508b; Cohen 65; RCV 14348.
    Notes: Some numismatists postulate that the S F in the fields of these coins from Trier is an abbreviation for SAECVLI FELICITAS.
     
  4. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I don't have any tetrarchal coins that have silvering. I do have a Tacitus and Florian with silvering, as well as a Constantine campgate type with silvering.
     
  5. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    We'd be happy to see them!
     
  6. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum, No. 17a, Constantius, follis:

    [​IMG]
    FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C ....................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

    Truncated bare neck bust obverse
    Genio Populi reverse
    Earliest obverse titulature
    10.1 gm.
    Britannia invasion coinage produced in Gaul at unknown Continental mint
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
  7. ValiantKnight

    ValiantKnight Well-Known Member

    Gallienus, Roman Empire
    AE antoninianus
    Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, bust right
    Rev: FELICI AVG, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
    Mint: Rome
    Date: 260-268 AD
    Ref: RIC 187

    [​IMG]
     
  8. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Tacitus 275 - 276

    Ӕ silvered Antoninianus, Rome, 275

    21 x 23 mm - 4.07 g

    IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG

    Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

    R/ LAETITIA FVND

    Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor.
    XXIB in exergue.

    RIC Vi Rome 89b

    large, grey silvering patina, XF

    [​IMG]

    Florianus (A.D. 275-276)


    Type: Silvered AE antoninianus, 23mm 4.1 grams, bulk of silvering intact.

    Obverse: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate portrait right, draped and cuirassed.

    Reverse: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right, presenting wreath of victory to Florian standing opposite and holding spear.

    Mintmark: S. (Cyzicus)

    Reference: Cohen 15; Sear 11853.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  9. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Here's a Diocletian with lots of silvering...

    [​IMG]
    Diocletian, Ruled 285-305 AD
    AE Antoninianus (silvered)
    Struck 285 AD, Antioch Mint

    Obverse: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, bust of Diocletian, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right.
    Reverse: IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG, Jupiter, standing right, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand, and Hercules, standing left, holding Victory in right hand and club and lion’s skin in left hand, A officina designation above, mintmark XXI.
    References: RIC V 323
     
  10. Victor_Clark

    Victor_Clark all my best friends are dead Romans Dealer

    two recentish acquisitions

    Sa2xk9AH3YqXqn4Le5NeJjc87ZEbBc.jpg

    Probus
    A.D. 276- 282
    Ӕ Antoninianus
    21mm 4.2g
    IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    CLEMENTIA TEMP; Emperor standing right, holding scepter with eagle, receiving globe from Jupiter; Γ • in center.
    In ex. XXI
    RIC Vii Antioch 920

    Though attributed to Antioch in RIC, this coin has more recently been attributed, mainly based on style, to an unknown mint, struck A.D. 280- 281, when the governor of Syria, Saturninus, revolted against Probus.

    See the article by Sylviane Estiot

    https://www.academia.edu/29744478/L_Empereur_et_l_usurpateur_un_4e_atelier_oriental_sous_Probus



    Carthage_31a.JPG

    Diocletian
    A.D. 303
    27x29mm 9.3g
    IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right.
    SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands.
    In ex. A
    RIC VI Carthage 31a

    This coin celebrates the defeat of the Quinquegentiani (People of the Five Tribes), who were a confederation of Berbers in North Africa. They were under Roman rule, but rebelled in A.D. 289 and were successful for a few years until Maximianus Herculius launched a series of devastating attacks starting in A.D. 297 and finishing in A.D. 298, after which, the Quinquegentiani were never heard of again.
     
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  11. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    217020 (3).jpg Fully silvered one side and not sure what happened to the other.
     
  12. Jovian363

    Jovian363 Well-Known Member

    Here is an uncleaned Maximianus Herculius antoninianus from a large hoard, but silvering is quite visible. MaximianIoviConservat.jpg
     
  13. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    My most highly silvered, arranged chronologically:

    Gallienus:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.39.18 PM.jpg

    Aurelian:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.40.33 PM.jpg

    Probus:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.41.15 PM.jpg

    Carinus as Caesar:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.41.53 PM.jpg

    Maximianus:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.42.17 PM.jpg

    Constantius I:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.42.32 PM.jpg

    This Constantine still has some silver left:
    Screen Shot 2020-07-04 at 12.44.08 PM.jpg
     
    Bing, ominus1, Valentinian and 6 others like this.
  14. Restitutor

    Restitutor Well-Known Member

    Recently purchased and anxiously awaiting this antoninianus of Severina, my first antoninianus ever actually. Including the sellers pic until it arrives and I can photograph it myself!

    Severina; Rome, Antoninianus, 3.84g. RIC-3, Göbl-132s3 (66 spec.), Paris-175. Obv: SEVERINA AVG Bust draped r. on crescent, wearing stephane. Rx: CONCO - RDIA AVGG Aurelian and Severina clasping hands, ΓXXIR in exergue (officina 3). From the Philip Ashton Collection, acquired from Alex Malloy, March 2001.Fully silvered. Mint State



    upload_2020-7-4_16-10-27.png
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
    Johndakerftw, Bing, ominus1 and 4 others like this.
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