Constantius II FEL TEMP from Aquileia with Chi-Rho...beginning of the end for Magnentius

(seller's pic)

Constantius II
A.D. 352-355
Ӕ nummus 21mm 3.6g
D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right.
FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Soldier spearing fallen horseman, LXXII in left field, Chi-Rho in center.
In ex. AQP
RIC VIII Aquileia 195



This FEL TEMP has a Chi-Rho on the reverse in the center. It is in rough condition but is actually fairly rare despite the RIC rating of common.
LXXII is the weight standard (72 to a pound) and also appeared on coins from Siscia. These were issued shortly after Constantius II reclaimed Aquileia from Magnentius.

So this coin checks several boxes
--Rare
--Chi-Rho
--One of the few instances with a weight standard on the coin
--historical significance…marks the recapture of Aquileia from Magnentius

 

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Congrats, Victor! I love to see these types. They do not come up for sale often. Good catch! As you so rightly pointed out -- four cool "boxes" can be checked! Your numismatic data led me to see (and correct) an error in the data I had for a very similar coin in my collection.

I have RIC VIII Aquileia 196, which at first glance looks like a twin-sister type to your 195. The two key differences (as you know) are in the obverse legend and the portrait's personage. The reverses are essentially the same.

I've posted it before but here it is:

Authority: Constantius II, 352-355
Mint: Aquileia; struck ca. 352-353
Denom.: Large AE2; 21.3 x 19.5 mm., 3.48 gr.
Obv.: D N CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C; Bust of Constantius Gallus, bareheaded, draped, cuirassed, right; 'A' behind bust.
Rev.: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO: Soldier, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, advancing left, spearing fallen horseman with r. hand, wearing shield on l. arm; shield on ground; horseman turning to face soldier, raising l. arm; LXXII in l. field, Chi-Rho in center; AQP in exergue.
Attrib.: RIC VIII Aquileia 196. (Rare.)

 

That's a nice example for Gallus. I had two that I sold and wish that I had kept the second one.

 

By way of contrast: I wish that I had been the one who bought it from you! Wonderful specimen!!!

 

That's a great pick-up! I also love all the Gallus examples posted.

Newest addition to my Fallen Horseman (FH) collection. (Seller photo, edited by me.)
LXXII (Siscia) -- but no Chi-Rho, unfortunately!



The FH types have been my favorite series of Roman Imperial Coins for at least 20 or 25 years now, but I've only recently started trying to collect the "important" varieties and different mints.

This post reminded me to put the Chi-Rho variety high on my wish-list (especially from Constantius Gallus, Aquileia), right after any Trier mint issue (needed to have one from every mint).

The @philologus_1 Gallus is a very attractive coin in its own right, apart from being a fascinating & rare type. (Those surfaces look to me like an old collection. Anytime one of those old multi-generational, pre-WWI European family collections goes to auction, I notice a lot of late Roman bronzes with that appearance.)

 

I just got the coin today and was surprised how nice it is in hand. The seller's pic made me think it was almost stripped; but it has a nice patina.