Fitz Needs Help Attributing!

Hello all - I've been going though a bunch of Imperial Roman coins I bought back in the 90s to properly attribute them (needles to say, my methods in the 90s were crude since there was nowhere near the resources then that we have today with the internet). I imagine I'm going to have a couple of questions that I'm hoping you guys can help me with, so I thought I would start a dedicated thread.

My first one is a VOT type, which I think may be Constantius II, but it's worn, and off-flan enough that I'm having trouble (and I do not have a copy of RIC, I have been reliant on Helvetica's page, and wildwinds). Anyway, here's my first coin, and my attempt at an attribution - if you have any insight or corrections, I would greatly appreciate it!


Imperial Rome
Constantius II, r. 337-361 A.D. (347-348 A.D.)
Constantinople Mint, AE4, 11mm x 1.3 grams
Obv.: DN CONS(TAN-TIVS PF) AVG, rosette diademed head right
Rev.: VOT / X dot X / MVLT / XXX dot, within wreath, mintmark CONSB in ex
Ref.: RIC VIII Constantinople 72?

Thanks guys!

 

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Looks good to me. I believe the occasional dot one finds on these is a centering dot, not part of the inscription. I have one from Cyzicus...

 

Vota coins are interesting mainly because we can date them specifically. The only Vot dot I own is somewhat different.

MAXIMIANUS
AE Post reform radiate
OBVERSE: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, radiate bust right
REVERSE: / VOT dot XX S in three lines within laurel wreath
Struck at Ticinum, 299 AD
2.33 grs. 19.50 mm
RIC RIC 36b

 

The centering dot from use of a compass laying out the outer border shold be on every die but most were erased when the design was cut in the center. In addition to the Vota coins you will find them on any type with nothing dead center in the field. Some were deeper than others. Some may have been polished out of the die. They should not be cataloged.

Note on the Maxentius follis below there are two figures in the temple with a globe between them but below that larger globe is the tiny centering dot.


On the Dioscuri reverse below (another Maxentius) the dot falls between and just above the horses' knees.

 

Great - thanks all!

 

Okay all - I've got anther one here that I thought would be fairly easy, but has been stumping me...


The obverse starts with 'IMP,' but then I have trouble from there. I suspect Diocletian, but am unsure. I believe the reverse is Genio Populi ... something. Again, not sure, but it looks like the mintmark is D(maybe P?)LG. The size is about 26mm and weight is about 7.9 grams. Any thoughts? I'm very tempted to think it is this (Lyons RIC VI 177a, from wild winds):


Thanks again!

 

It certainly looks like it to me.

 

Thanks for the response Mikey - the more I look at the two, the more convinced I am that I've got it right. But I also don't want to be fooling myself...

 

When I bought this uncleaned lot, they were all pretty cakes with dirt. I got most off with water and a brush, then let a bunch soak in olive oil, and even used a hot glue gun to pull extra sediment off. This one always frustrated be because it's clear legend on the obverse, and some clear lettering on the reverse (which made it the star of the lot, really), but there was some gunk on it that I just couldn't get off. Any recommendations? I'll admit I haven't tried a toothpick or soaking it again in 15 years. It's clearly Gallienus, but the gunk on the back makes it hard to figure out what the reverse is (I can't even see what's on the reverse, just a couple of the letters...)



Thanks again all!

 

Take a look on Wildwinds for RIC 159
Gallienus Billon Antoninianus. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / AEQVIT AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales & cornucopiae
I think I can see a Q on the reverse, you may be able to see details in hand that we can not.

 

Thanks Pish - I'll take a look when I can get back to my desk (Broncos are on...). Aside from the gunk, the reverse looked blank to me (aside from parts of the legend), and the number of Gallienus's to wade through was looking daunting... Any advice for cleaning it up more? Some of it may be encrusted, but I think I could get more of it off

 

It all depends on what you have used before. If you have soaked in oil, then you are stuck with oil. If not, I would suggest distilled water or de-ionised water. Leave it to soak changing the water when it becomes cloudy. This could take a very long time, so patience is your friend here. If you think there could be any organics on the surface, you could try washing it in 100 percent acetone first. Have a pick at it every now and then with something not too sharp, then chuck it back in the water. It could take months but any shortcut is likely to spoil whatever is left on the coin.

 

Thanks - I had used oil. Does it matter that that was over 10 years ago, or should I still stick with oil?

 

Oil and water? They don't mix. You could try soaking in acetone, but you should probably stick with oil. Same instructions as above. Change the oil when it becomes cloudy, try picking every so often and then back into the oil. This is a long term project.

 

I understand they don't mix - my question is on time. This was taken out of the oil 15 years ago. Does it still matter that I stick to oil, even after 15 years of being 'dry'?

 

Oil does not evaporate in the same way that water will. I suggest you stick with oil.

 

Perfect - thank you Pish! I appreciate the help

 

By the way Pish - finally got a chance to look at the coin again, and I think you nailed it - RIC 159 with AEQVIT AVG

 

Well I thought I saw a Q so went onto Wildwinds, then I just did CTRL F and searched for Q. It looked like the only suspect

 

That trick (CTRL F) has helped me a few times with Wildwinds!