Phoenix on the Rocks & other LRBs

I've always been meaning to spend more time in LRBland, so last month I helped myself to a couple of mixed lots. I'm not a huge collector of these, but when it comes to ancient numismatic fun, it's hard to beat the value-for-money proposition of LRBs.

I'll post some of those that I found more interesting in this thread, starting with this Fel Temp type that I've always been keen on - it's the only one with an animal as the main device.


CONSTANTIUS II
AE3
2.4g, 20mm
Siscia mint, AD 348-350
RIC VIII Siscia 240 (C4)
O: DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right.
R: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, radiate phoenix standing right on on rocky mound; gamma SIS symbol3 in exergue.

Next up, a Constans 'Soldiers & Standards' with a legend twist - FL CONSTANTIS BEA C. Apart from the very unusual use of the genitive declension CONSTANTIS (of Constans), Constans here is also called Beatissimi (Blessed) rather than the more familiar Nobilissimus (Noble), which I guess makes him the special little youngest son. Anyone know why Siscia was the only mint to do this?


CONSTANS
AE3
2.5g, 17.8mm
Siscia mint, AD 333-335
RIC VII Siscia 238 (R4)
O: FL CONSTANTIS BEA C, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
R: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers holding spears & shields with two standards between them; dot ASIS dot in exergue.

Last one for now... a tiny Helena AE4 which I just found to be quite pleasing.


HELENA
Mother of Constantine
AE4
1.48g, 15mm
Constantinople mint, AD 330
RIC VIII Constantinople 35 (S)
O: FL IVL HELE-NAE AVG, diademed and mantled bust right, wearing necklace.
R: PAX PV-BLICA dot, Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse sceptre; CONS epsilon in exergue.

Feel free to post your own examples or anything related .

 

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That Constantius II phoenix is great!

 

Now you're barking up my tree! Well...one of my too many trees anyway.

Here's a Constantius II of the same phoenix-on-mound type...



Constans with CONSTANTIS BEA C legend...



And Helena, but with SECVRITAS reverse...

 

A small correction - the Helena depicted on your coin is not Julian's wife but rather Constantine's mother.
There is however a coin presumably dedicated to the memory of Julian's Helena, a unique siliqua minted cca. 360AD: http://romanumismatics.com/articles/article/rome-helena-ii-wife-of-julian-ii/

 

Well, here's one for your thread - I just received this nice Constantine today:


Ex Rick Morton

 

I almost forgot...also in today's mail:

 

Thanks for the catch, Seth - edited. As you can see, I'm a bit of a stranger in these parts .

 

Both are very nice!

 

Thanks @zumbly !

 

These are very nice LRBs.

 

I will need to correct myself also, as of last year, there are 3 coins of Flavia Maxima Helena known, so that one ROMA sold is no longer a unique piece.
Quite a remarkable issue, some reading material about it, with regards from Budapest

 

I've posted my LRB's ad nauseum in another thread, but I did come across this Theodosius II AE4 last night. I've tried to improve the seller's image without much success...



I think only an aficionado of LRB's would see this coin as something special. The tiny cross types of Theo II were very poorly produced. The types with cross-in-wreath are common in poor grades, the ones with CONCORDIA AVGGG legends are scarce in any grade, and quite rare in VF. This coin has copious lettering, a strong cross, and large, bold mint mark (Cyzicus).

 

Lovely examples one and all...and I absolutely agree with you 'Z'----those first entering in the 'Ancient World' should focus initially on LRB's and own a gorgeous example at such affordable prices and then explore other areas as their budget grows. Of course, I didn't follow my own advice when I first started LOL


How about Theodora?? And even a beautiful Constantine that I seem to have lost track of last night and lost on bid:

 

All look great, nice score

 

Too many coins in this thread to remember all but: That IS a nice cross reverse. Any of these with identifiable mint mark strikes me as collectible but few are like this one.

Theodora's coins came along at a bad time as far as workmanship goes. Mikey's has a nice portrait and mintmark. Sorry about the reverse head. Mine has a nice reverse head. Sorry about the mintmark.



Both Constans BEAC coins shown are two standards versions. They also come in one standard models:

 

solid new LRBs Z..and that a very nice theo/cross JA.

this coin i just finished up last night, an constantine ii from an old uncleaned lot. not bad.




Constantine II, 337-348 AD
O: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG, R: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, dot ASIS star in ex. Siscia mint, RIC VIII Siscia 79, 17 mm, 2.0 g

 

If you have a real copy of RIC vol VI, an owner of this coin should read the long notes on page 459f where it explains the thinking that assigns this to Constantine II rather than Constantine I. It is not a 100% thing but it is a good example of problems numismatists face.

 

Z-Bro => that's a yummy-yummy phoenix!! (great coin)

Ummm, I have a similar Siscia Constans example ...





..... oooooow, cool eh?

 

Thanks for sharing your coins, folks. Just a mere smattering of different types goes some distance in showing how varied and interesting LRBs can be.