Just Curious

I couldn't work out what this was, sold today on the bay UK.

 

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it a POP ROMANVS from Constantinople. The reverse is upside down, but the mintmark is CONSA (or H). It's in RIC VIII, but should be in RIC VII, as it was most likely issued for the commemoration of Constantinople, so A.D. 330.

I rotated and attached the reverse, it looks more like an H.



it's affiliated with the POP ROMANVS bridge type- 2 examples from AC search

 

Thanks Victor. It went for around 55 GBP. I didn't bid. Not seen one before so I was curious. It was advertised as very rare, but with no attribution.

 

it's amazing how many "very rare" coins are listed, especially with no attribution.

this coin is certainly not very rare, though I don't think it is as common as the C3 that RIC gives it. Probably better described as scarce. With the flaking surfaces, I would be worried about the surfaces completely falling off though.

 

Agreed. There is a plethora of "unreasearched, rare coins" on ebay.

 

Wow. Never saw either type. However hypothetically, they would make a resonantly cool complement to the commoner ones marking the death of Constantine. (You're referred to the recent thread from Coins, "Got Wolf Milk?")
...The bridge motif on the second example from Victor Clark is fantastic.

 

...Yeah, American ebay is like that. At least if you're trawling for Medievals, it starts to feel like you're the canary in the the coal mine for this kind of thing. ...But it's The Same coal mine. Along the lines of, "I don't know what the ---- it is, but it's Rare! --Rare, I tell you! Now pay me stupid money for it!"
...Where ancients are concerned, it's probably better than that on UK ebay ...even if (???) only by default. (For UK ebay, what I can verify is that the listings for (no surprise, overwhelmingly English) hammered are a relative oasis, where basic levels of responsibility are concerned.)

 

Here's mine, however with officina Θ.
14 mm. RIC VIII 22 "330 AD"
Bought at Baldwin's in London in 1988.

 

My $26 eBay find.

 

55 GBP seems a little high for condition

Commemorative Series
Mint Constantinople
330 AD
Obvs: POP ROMANVS, Draped bust of genius left, cornucopia over shoulder.
Revs: Eight pointed star in wreath, CONSI.
AE 14mm, 1.44g
Ref: RIC VIII.22