I keep being dragged to LRBs as you get a lot of coin for your money. In this case it was the bust, which I thought was very appealing. AE3 Obv:– CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, Laureate, bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding Victory on globe in right hand and mappa in left Rev:– BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, Altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, surmounted by globe with plain vertical lines and diagonals between horizontal lines, three stars above Minted in Trier (//●PTR●). A.D. 322-323 Reference:– RIC VII Trier 382 (R3) 3.88g. 19.25mm. 0 degrees
Constantine II is good value. Here's my BEATA TRANQVILLITAS, which I got for the provenance rather than the bust, although I like that too: Constantine II, 321-322, Londinium. 20mm. CONSTANTI-NVS IVN NC. BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, VOTIS XX (RIC VII 236). From the Killingholme Hoard: 3,700 coins of Constantine I and his sons (dating from the 320s and 330s) discovered at Killingholme, Yorkshire, England in 1993. The coins were tightly packed into a single pot sometime in the 330s.
Though not always clear, in the left is actually a parazonium (dagger) with an eagle's head for the pommel cap. It is described incorrectly in lots of the literature, including RIC, Hunter and Sear. It is correctly described in several like -- Die römische Münzserie Beata Tranquillitas in der Prägestätte Trier 321-323 by Alten and Zschucke (2004) call it a Kurzschwert (Lat.: Parazonium). Le Monnayage de L'Atelier de Lyon: De La Reouverture de L'Atelier en 318 a la Mort de Constantin (318- 337). by Pierre Bastien (1982) Die Spätrömische Kupferprägung: Ein Bestimmungsbuch Für Schlecht Erhaltene Münzen by Guido Bruck (1961). This book is mostly line drawings and it shows a parazonium with a clear depiction of the eagle-headed pommel cap.
That's a wonderful bust type on your AE 3 Nummus , it looks mint state or close to it. For comparison here is a AE 3 Nummus of Constantine the Great from the same mint as your coin & the same reverse type. And you're right, these coins won't take you to the poor house .
That is quite the appealing bust! I really like the way Victory looks having to reach up high to put the wreath on young Constantine. Unfortunately, I have no BEATA types to share. I was never really into those types.
Constantine II A.D. 323 CONSTANTINVS IVN N C; laureate and cuirassed bust left, decorated shield (maybe Constantine I and Constantine II, shaking hands) on left arm, spear over shoulder, holding horse by bridle with right hand. BEATA TRAN- QVILLITAS globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX; above, three stars. in ex. •PTR crescent RIC VII Trier 415
You could make a collection out of this one reverse type from Trier alone. In fact, and entire book has been written on it: 148 pages. It has 175 varieties for Constantine I, 3 for Licinius I, 11 for Licinius II, 255 for Crispus, and 179 for Constantine II, plus enlargements of bust types, shield details, etc. and many charts of shield designs and who issued what. Amazing! Here a three of mine of Constantine II (not all from Trier). Radiate bust left from the London mint. RIC VII London 216 variety (BEATA for BEAT) Bust left wearing imperial mantle and holding Victory on globe. RIC Trier 353. Helmeted bust left from London. RIC London 287.
When reading these it is necessary to check for spelling variations (too common to be called errors). TRANQLITAS Crispus London Constantine II London
Some great examples on this thread. This cute little contemporary imitation is a few notches lower in style. CONSTANTINE II AE3. 2.14g, 17.1mm. Contemporary imitation copying Trier mint, circa AD 322-323. Cf. RIC VII Trier 388 var. (bust type). O: [CONSTANTI]NVS IVN N[C], laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear forward [and shield]. R: BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, globe on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, three stars above; [•STR/PTR•] in exergue.
He looks like he is carrying a duck on a stick...eagle tipped sceptre in my example running diagonally Thoughts?
The parazonium is often not clear, but it might help to see some examples where it is easier to distinguish. Below are coins with the same bust type and better depictions of the parazonium. or, it might be better to look at some eagle tipped sceptres from this BEATA series and see that it is really quite distinct from what Constantine II is holding.
CONSTANTINE II AE Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTI-NVS IVN NC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left REVERSE: BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, globe on altar inscribed VOT / IS / XX, three stars above, PLON in ex. Struck at London 323-324 AD 2.5g, 19mm RIC VII 284
Never one to let anything lie without further investigation I had the opportunity to buy two more examples in this series which seem to show the parazonium much more clearly Obv:– CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, Laureate, bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding Victory on globe in right hand and parazonium (dagger) with an eagle's head for the pommel cap in left Rev:– BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, Altar inscribed VOT/IS/XX, surmounted by globe with plain vertical lines and diagonals between horizontal lines, three stars above Minted in Trier (//PTR). A.D. 321 Reference:– RIC VII Trier 312 (R4) 2.48g. 20.82mm. 180 degrees Obv:– CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, Laureate, bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding Victory on globe in right hand and parazonium (dagger) with an eagle's head for the pommel cap in left Rev:– BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, Altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, surmounted by globe with plain vertical lines and diagonals between horizontal lines, three stars above Minted in Trier (//●STR●). A.D. 322-323 Reference:– RIC VII Trier 382 (R3) 3.72g. 19.02mm. 180 degrees Does this coin also show a stylized gorgeinon on the chest? Regards, Martin
CONSTANTINE II (Two of them) RI Constantine II 337-340 CE AE3 VOT X RI Constantine II 337-340 CE AE3 GLORIA EXERCITVS Glory to the Army 2 Soldiers 2 Standards
Not to the standard of examples above I'm still pleased with this example received today. The reverse seems pretty much as struck. Constantine II reduced follis Lyon altar Beata RIC 188 R3 322-3 C.E
I always wondered why this series tended to be rather extravagant. I like to think it designated a higher value, but I know that's not true.
Here’s a fun Constantine II from London, with a full ring on both sides with flan to spare. Unfortunately the reverse die is a bit mushy. It’s reportedly from the Durrington Hoard (1779). I searched for information on the hoard and wasn’t able to find much. Anyone have any information on it? RIC VII London 255