I couldn't fathom anyone wanting to collect every mint variety of these things. I would get bored quick and go nuts .
I'll pose a challenge to anyone who wishes to pursue it: how would you go about collecting these types in an intentional way? There is no right or wrong answer, but these coins are cheap and easy to collect, so why not think about it? Certainly all three emperors in both types would make a pleasing set, perhaps all from one mint - Siscia is the most common. Or perhaps a collection that featured some of the interesting symbols found in the fields, such as stars. The OP coin has an interesting symbol, the thing that looks like an R with a cowlick. There are others. I collected this GLORIA type of Valens for the wonderful style the engraver put into the captive. This from Thessalonica's first issue of the type and hence has no field marks. Perhaps the extra room in the fields enticed the engraver to make the captive larger and give him some real character.
How about some gold? VALENS AV Solidus OBVERSE: DN VALENS PER F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right REVERSE: RESTITVTOR REIPUBLICAE, Valens standing right, holding labarum in right hand & Victory on globe in left, cross to left. Mintmark star ANTE star Struck at Antioch, 364 AD 3.6g, 19mm Antioch RIC 2d,xxxvii-5
Big thanks for posting that. I will make the change in my catalog. Was that chart you posted from Bruck's book?
I doubt I am alone in thinking I would like these coins with so many letters/symbols in the field better if I had any clue what they meant. We understand mint city marks and officina but adding three more in the field does not add interest to a coin enough to make me want 57 varieties of them. I must admit a preference or the ones with foreign looking letters like the feathered R in the lower right below mostly because I hope someday to understand what that letter is. Siscian, I assume???
Nice Valens Mat. I had a few for a while and still havent shot any pics yet :/ lol I think I'll make my next project to photograph the rest of my coins.
Nice Valens Mat. I had a few for a while and still havent shot any pics yet :/ lol I think I'll make my next project to photograph the rest of my coins.
Ok folks, I am shocked that I have TWO Valens in my Roman Empire Album. I focus on Roman Res Publica... but you all keep tempting me into reluctantly digressing into A.D. coinage.... I just counted around 70 coins from the Roman Empire... I have been corrupted... Oh well, it is still a BLAST!!! VALENS 364-375 Reduced Follis Reduced Follis - Siscia Mint
