I have several sub-collection themes. These are essentially a great excuse for me to buy coins when I haven't found anything from my primary collecting themes but have the need to buy a coin. It was a coin of Mars that got me into collecting ancients and I have continued to collect Mars coins. One of the benefits of Mars coins for me is that there is a huge amount of scope for continually adding coins. They have been produced over most of the period of the Empire and come with a large variety of types and legends and a variety of mints. Mars is shown as avenging (VLTOR), victorious (VICTORI), and fighting (PROPVGNATORIS) which are all combative aspects of the god but he is also shown as peace-making (PACATORI), preserving (CONERVATORI), and fatherly (PATRI) amongst others illustrating what the duties of the conquerors are. I have just added another couple of MARTI CONSERVATORI coins to my collection. The first is a Constantine the Great from London. I didn't have a London Mars so that was a great excuse. This one also has a more scarce reverse legend break according to RIC, which seems to be supported by a spot check of other coins of this issue. It's not really sharp but condition is perfectly acceptable with sufficient details to make out the design of the shield including the handle. The green-brown patina is very pleasing. Constantine the Great - Follis Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARTI CO-NSERVATORI. Mars helmeted, in military dress, cloak hanging over right shoulder, standing, right, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Minted in London (* | _ // PLN). Late A.D. 312 - May A.D. 313 Reference:– RIC VI London 251 (Rated S with CON-S, noted rarely occurring with CO-NS.) My second coin comes from Trier and is another CONSERVATORI type but this time is the smaller half follis. Mars is depicted nude rather than in full military dress on this smaller coin. I haven't seen one with such a nice reverse before and this one was buried in a mixed lot of soldier with standards coins which of course I had to buy just to get this one. Well that was my excuse for buying even more coins. Constantine the Great - Half Follis Obv:– CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARTI CONSERV, Mars helmeted, nude, with spread cloak, standing, right, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Minted in Trier (// PTR). A.D. 310 - 311 Reference:– RIC VI Trier 897 (S)
I remain fond of my AE1 MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI from Trier. Any use this late of the Olympian gods other than Jupiter is scarce.
I love those Marti Somethin'uri types I do have the same as Doug's Constantine the Great, Follis Trier mint, 1st officina IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Constantine right MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI, Mars walking right, holding spear and shield. S A in field, PTR at exergue 7.40 gr, 26 mm Ref : RC #3864, Cohen #368 Close to it, because of the similarities between Mars and Virtus, is my Virtuti Exercitus Constantine the Great, Follis Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina, c. AD 311 IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right VIRTVTIE-XERCITVS Mars/Virtus advancing right in military dress, holding transverse spear and shield ; trophy over shoulder. B in right field. SMN in exergue. 4.88 gr, 22 mm RIC-, C-, Roman coins - RIC lists this type only for Licinius and Maximinus . "Iovi Conservatori and Virtuti Exercitus both appear for Licinius and Maximinus, emissions for the former being the more scarce: coinage for Constantine is extremely rare. Date, c. 311". Coin should be listed after NICOMEDIA 70c. Please see Victor Clarks website for further information at :http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/unlisted/ Q
Doug, That one is an absolute gem and far better than my own example of the type. MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI has a parallel type of MARTI PATRI CONSERVATORI this time from Lugdunum Constantine the Great Obv:– IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped bust right (seen from the rear) Rev:– MARTI PATRI CONSERVATORI, Helmeted Mars, naked, standing right, right hand holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Mint – Lugdunum (CI | H/S / PLC) Autumn A.D. 308 to Spring A.D. 309 Reference:– RIC VI Lugdunum 294 (Scarce). Bastien XI 511 (20)
Q, Your coins must be Mars rather than Virtus. Virtus is female and depicted with right breast exposed. Fantastic coins.
As Steve pointed out in another thread. I "seem to collect in "bunches" ". Here are a few more examples from my Bunch of Mars the Preserver.... Constantine the Great - Follis - Bust of Mars Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG. Laureate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARTI CONSERVATORI. Helmeted bust of Mars facing right Minted in Trier (unmarked). A.D. 310 - 313 Reference:– RIC VI Trier 881 Constantine the Great - a full size from Trier Obv:– CONSTANTINVS P F AVG. Laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev:–. MARTI CONSERVATORI. Mars standing, right, holding spear and leaning on shield Minted in Trier. T in left field, F in right field, ATR in exe. Reference:– RIC VII Trier 114 (Scarce) The inevitable introduction of Lugdunum (sorry Doug) Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right (seen from rear) Rev:- MARTI CON-SERVATORI, Mars helmeted, in military dress, cloak hanging over right shoulder, standing, right, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Minted in Lugdunum (T | F / PLC). A.D. 315 Reference:– Bastien XI 570 (30 examples cited). RIC VII Lugdunum 10 (R2) Mars facing the other way! Obv:– CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate cuirassed bust right Rev:–. MARTI CON-SERVATORI. Mars helmeted, in military dress, spread cloak, standing, right, looking left, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Minted in Trier (T | F / BTR). A.D. 315-316 Reference:– RIC VII Trier 118 (R4)
Not sure if this fits entirely here, but Gordian III with Mars Propvgnat reverse. I actually bought it more for the expressive portrait.
Very nice. There is also the longer legend variety under Gordian. Gordian III, Sestertius Obv:– IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed Rev:– MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, S-C, Mars advancing right holding spear and shield Minted in Rome. A.D. 243 - 244 Reference:– Cohen 161. RIC 333. Somewhat harshly cleaned but a nicely detailed reverse. And they also come in smaller silver versions.... Gordian III Antoninianus Obv:– IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARS PROPVG, Mars hastening right, holding transverse spear and shield Minted in Rome. Fifth Issue. A.D. 243 – 244 Reference:– RIC 145, RSC 155
Love the highly scarce posts!!! I think this Postumus example is the latest i have of Mars on the reverse:
Maximinus II Daia Obv:– GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C, Laureate head right Rev:– VIRTVTI EXERCITVS, Mars advancing right, naked but for floating chlamys, right hand holding a transverse spear with trophy over left shoulder Minted in Cyzicus (Γ in left field, MKV in exe). December A.D. 308 – May A.D. 310 References:– RIC VI Cyzicus 49 Probus Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARTI VICTORI AVG, Mars standing left, holding laurel-branch and spear; to left behind him, shield Minted in Lugdunum (II in exe) Emission 7, Officina 2. Summer A.D. 281 Reference:– Bastien 320 (5 examples cited). RIC 89 Bust type F Aurelian Obv:– IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARS INVICTVS, Mars, naked, holding spear, standing right receiving globe from Sol, standing left holding whip in left hand Minted in Cyzicus mint, 10th emission, officina 3; start to mid 275 CE. (G // XXI). Reference:– RIC 357 Bust Type F. La Venera 10718. Estiot RIC temp #3076, citing 12 examples
