Fallen Horsemen again....

Well by new exploration of the fallen horseman type has brought me to another few coins.

As Doug stated in an earlier thread

I have a few of these and have added a couple recently.

Constantius II - AE3
Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– FEL TEMP R-EPARATIO, Helmeted soldier to left, shield on left arm, spearing falling horseman; shield on ground at right. Horseman wears helmet and falls forward reaching towards emperor
Minted in Constantinople (dot //CONSS). 15th March A.D. 351 - Winter A.D. 354
Reference:- RIC VIII Constantinople 121 var (Rated rare with R-E reverse legend break)

RIC states that these reaching types (FH3) should be bare headed and bearded. There is enough detail on this example to see that the soldier is beardless and wears a Phrygian helmet. This example comes with the supposedly rarely seen R-EP rather than RE-P reverse legend break. Dane notes other examples of FH3 like my example and yet others where the hair is drawn into a topknot?!. So are there multiple sub-types of FH3 for those obsessives amongst us to chase?

 

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Another one nobody but me would love...

Constantius Gallus - AE3
Obv:– DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is bare headed, reaching backwards
Minted in Aquileia (II | _ // AQT), September A.D. 352 - Winter A.D. 354
Reference:– RIC VIII Aquileia 209 (C)

As you can see the horseman is beardless, reaching and described by RIC as bare headed though that could be an abstract helmet.

 

This one has more general appeal, coming from the larger type...

Constantius II - AE2
Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Helmeted soldier to left, shield on left arm, spearing falling horseman; shield on ground at right. Horseman is bearded and falls forward reachine towards emperor (type FH3)
Minted in Cyzicus (Gamma | _ //.SMKE). A.D. 348-351
Reference:- RIC VIII Cyzicus 95. LRBC 2488

Clearly bare headed and bearded and reaching on this one which has much more eye appeal than the two above.

 

I think they all have eye appeal. I have a couple FH types, but they are rather rough. One of these days I plan to hunt some in better condition like these.

 

Warren's coin is a wonderful example from a time when the coins were not what they once were. From the standpoint of a student of the series, the important part is that you can read the mintmark and see the details of the horseman (hair, hat, beard, clothing and, of course, pose. Many of these little and later ones make it hard to define these points and guessing from poor specimens can be misleading.

Below is a coin that actually is not bad for its mint and time but the flatness of the rider's head requires a bit of guesswork. Scholars in major museums may have a thousand coins from a hoard and can piece together what they need from several matching coins. Collectors like me feel lucky to have one and can only hope we guess correctly. Dane claimed 2200 variations of horseman coins but I am not sure that this number allowed for some of the hair/beard choices as well a the more obvious legend/mintmarks. I reject the concept of a complete set of anything but here it becomes scary when we wonder if the 2200 number could have been low???

 

Since this thread was extended to Gallus, I'll show what I consider to be a 'almost' great coin. I love the portrait with mullet. I love the electrified hair of the horseman and his striped suit.I only wish the mintmark did not require using Bruck, style and guesswork. Even if I'm willing to accept my guess on the city (what do YOU guess?) the officina would require finding a die match an those are very rare on coins this late. Collectible? I'm keeping it. Important as a study piece? Not so much.

 

That last coin has a gorgeous bust and the majority of the reverse is wonderful. I am still learning my way round these and certainly can't confidently differentiate by style yet. Is it Nicomedia?

 

That is my opinion.

 

Fantastic FH as always, Martin ... man, it would be amazing to see your entire collection "all of it together, in person"

=> yah, I'm thinking that would take an extremely large boardroom table, eh?!

... please continue to show us your awesome updates!!

Oh, and Mentor => wow, the mullet-coin is a real keeper!! (yup, I'm very jealous of your Billy Ray Cyrus Fallen Horseman!!)

 

great coins! i'm always on the lookout for fallen horseman, figured i'd try an collect a few of the different types, now i'm new at this so i want to know which is correct, i've been using this as a reference http://www.catbikes.ch/helvetica/feltemps.htm , and here it looks like your horseman is wearing the "brimmed" helmet an not the Phrygian helmet, so which is correct?

 

Phrygian hat or helmet should bend over forward. The OP is certainly brimmed. I suspect there are many other minor variations on these. Few were recognized when RIC was written. Many coins are at least a little ambiguous.

Phrygian:

 

This is a charming coin. I must have missed it in a prior FH thread.

 

I really wish CT had a way to tell what coins I have uploaded before and could link to again from their space. Then it might be possible to show coins that you have not seen before but we all want to show our favorites. Of course we have new members often enough that we probably should show the good stuff rather than also rans that would just be new to all.

 

I think you have a FH addiction




Heres a few of my smaller ones

 

Well okay, I'm gonna pile-on as well ... I love showing my FH example (the reverse rocks!!)

... oh, and if you squint a bit and jiggle your head back and forth then this example looks a bit different than my usual FH-contribution ...

 

That star!

 

Kinda like a Moravian Star!

 

Another new smaler AE3 horseman arrived yesterday...

Constantius Gallus - AE3

Obv:– DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right
Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is bare headed, reaching backwards
Minted in Sirmium (// ASIRM Dot), September A.D. 352 - Winter A.D. 354
Reference:– RIC VIII Sirmium 53

I thin the obverse die is quite worn since the lack of detail isn't due to wear judging by the relative lack of wear on the reverse. A hint of a mullet but nothing compared to the coin illustrated by Doug above.

 

I agree on the die wear. That is a nice reverse for Sirmium.