Special to me Constantine I

Last month I posted a Licinius I coin that was issued along with his rare coins for Valens (the RIC VII one not the RIC IX common guy). Being part of an issue makes a common ruler no more marketable but I thought the idea was cool so I wanted the coin.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/licinius-unfortunately.276469/

That coin made me feel the desire for a similar coin of the time and mint of Licinius' other unfortunate, Martinian. I went looking and found a Constantine I issued by Licinius from his mint at Cyzicus at the same time he was striking for Martinian. This is RIC 14 page 645. It is one of the revalued 12 1/2 denarii issues only made in mints under Licinius' control. Many of Licinius' ideas failed to catch on but Martinian was probably one of his worst. Constantine most certainly would have executed Licinius instantly were it not for the fact that Mrs. Licinius was Constantine's sister. Licininus was not smart enough to behave well after this second chance so the next time resulted in the sister being a widow.


I wanted the coin because of its rather vague connection to Martinian but it almost was more trouble than it was worth. I went against my better judgment and ordered it from a vCoins dealer overseas that I knew would provide slow service. He surprised me and it arrived in just under a month. I especially liked the portrait with ringlet curls framing Constantine's face. By the time it arrived, I was feeling a little anxious but felt relieved Saturday to find a missed package notice in my mailbox. Things from Europe are sent Registered Mail for values less that would make sense if you were mailing the other direction. This cost $4.24 to mail Registered. When I got to my post office, they could not find it. Three employees spent 20 minutes looking in places where it should be and not when the postmistress told me that they would take my numbers and tear the place apert looking for it. The postman who tried to deliver it Saturday was there and told them it was a small packet but I still saw them looking at large boxes and small letters in the Registered box.

As I was half way between the door and my car, I heard a voice calling my name from behind and saw the lady waving my envelope. She said it was right on top of the stack right where it belonged. Anyway...... I got it. After losing a coin from Lanz in January and getting a coin I did not order from another vCoin dealer that has been ignoring my emails, I will be buying domestic for a while except for the seller that uses FEDEX. I really prefer coin shows. Really!

 

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Wonderful coin Doug (especially with the Martinian connection) and I'm happy to hear things worked out with the delivery. All of us have probably experienced something similar and feel precisely as you do.

For the rest of us who have only a bare glimmer of familiarity with that short-termed ruler (and I had to look him up---and googled him--- to refresh my ever failing memory LOL). Here's a cool post of one of his pricey coins I'll never own---a follis:


Apparently, he ruled from July to September 18, 324 AD.

 

I can so see this masquerading as a common Constantine or Licinius in a small lot or something. Even better if the photos weren't the best.

 

WOW @dougsmit , bummer about the delivery! I have had a few scary moments at the PO too... However, reading your posting today got me scared about a couple big shipments coming in from overseas! UPDATE - LUCKY ME: they just emailed me my FedEX tracking numbers!

 

Last two shipments I sent to the US from my little village in the UK took a day to get to O'Hare and JFK.......they then spent a week at those destinations being 'prepared' for delivery.

Nice coin Doug.

 

The cost of your time in dealing with the delivery hassles is also a factor. I'm glad this story ended well.

As for preferring coin shows, I just returned from my second-ever coin show. While extremely fun and valuable because of getting to know the dealers, I probably fare better when buying at auction and online. It's hard for me to make good decisions when I don't have quick access to tons of comparisons.

 

Nice coin, Doug. I like the curls too.

And still buying from Lanz? Tsk Tsk....

Same here, shows can be fun, but I find it easier to buy, compare and even sell/trade online.

 

I am with the online buyers on this one and like tbc, I have had most of my coins arrive in good time in the US when sent from the UK and then take two weeks at your end to be faffed around with.

 

That's awesome!! (it's always a pleasure to read your "stuff")

=> Mentor, I love your new OP-addition ...

 

A nice example of one Doug.

Heres a FH with some curls ^_^

 

Gee, Randy, when I think of PARL curls, I think about the ones on the horse's rear.

 

awww, that poor horse => it has such a cute curly bum



... that's a "very" cool coin (it's a total winner)

 

i didn't know (or remember?) who martinian was either.

lovely black and "sun burst" patina on that coin.

 

International mail is really hit and miss. Recently I waited 3 weeks for one coin from Germany, just 5 days for another from France, and a Lanz coin took the normal 7-10 days. All of the packets were international registered mail, which is of course treated as First Class Mail once it reaches the US.

That's a really splendid coin Doug, I'm glad it finally arrived safe and sound.

 

As a last thought about deliveries, I've has international shipments arrive within two weeks and most by three but a few took a month or more and inevitably the delay was at this side of the pond as the tracking info made perfectly clear.---the 'unknown' factor of when or if it would ever be delivered is maddening

 

I am, for the time being anyways, the very happy owner of a Martinian.

 

Well done! I am on another website, and just saw it!

 

WOW!! One of the few that seem to be anywhere except in catalogs....Care to share the provenance of it?? I'm curious to know where it's been ....or did you find it in a unnoticed lot like V-K fantasized about

 

thats a whorse!