I was in the market to get some new late romans and this particular one below caught my eye and most of all it's price, under $10:hail: I think its a beaut, especially for the price & many from his time are usually crude. I had to attribute most of it myself. I am curious, what do the Θ and Φ at sides stand for. I saw many examples with other symbols but not too many like mine. Gratian (367- 383 A.D.) O: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: VIRTVS ROMANORVM Roma seated facing, head left, holding globe and spear,Θ and Φ at sides, anta in ex. 2.5g
I don't know. I'm away from my books at the moment but I'm not sure that they would help there. The best reference on these is online by Warren Esty: http://esty.ancients.info/ricix/type19.html but he does not provide guesses as to the meanings of field letters. Victor Failmezger often did in his book which did not extend this late and used Latin letters in the fields. Generally one expected some simple phrase like Felicitas Temporum but we have to remember that these were as much guesses as gospel. The later Roman coins as cataloged in RIC volume IX used a larger array of field letters which may not be understood by anyone let alone entry level students like me. We have our theories but that is not always backed up by hard evidence. Yes, it is a lovely coin. At under $10, it's a beaut and exactly the sort of thing I suggest new collectors seek out for their collections. If you outgrow this coin it will be because you believe you are too good for coins worth $10, not because this coin is not worthy of representing its type.
This coin was one of those "it called to me" pieces & it was just listed as I visited the site for it. I wasnt gonna barter the price lower or anything. I loved the green & sandy patina also. I dont own very many of them. I know several collectors get tired of sandy pantinas but I think they add character that otherwise would be another bronze. I have all the RICs downloaded and your right, I didnt understand any of it for this coin.
theta and phi are probabli the officina that struck the coin or are part of the mintmark ANTA is the mintmark for Antiochia in the eastern empire) nice coin
