An assortment of my favorite Sol coins from Constantine I

I recently noticed that I have a lot of Sol coins for Constantine. I don't particularly like the type, but rather collect them for rare bust types or something interesting on the reverse. So, anyway, I guess that I accidentally collect Sol coinage. Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order.




the CLARITAS sol from Rome are a bit rare. Notice that Sol is carrying his whip, used to speed up his horses as he travels across the heavens.

Constantine I
A.D. 317
17x21mm 2.9gm
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE; Sol radiate, advancing left, raising right hand, whip in left, chlamys flying; A in left field.
In ex. R Q
RIC VII Rome 80







This coin is rare because it has COS IIII in the obverse legend...this is what is called a dated coin as it was issued in A.D. 315 for the fourth consulship of Constantine...perhaps Constantine was actually in Lugdunum at the time


Constantine I
A.D. 315
18mm 1.3g
CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG COS IIII; trabeate bust left with Victory on globe in right.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol stg. left, raising r. hand, globe in l.; chlamys across l. shoulder; T-F across fields.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons --; Bastien 554

This coin is not in RIC for the bust type, it should come after RIC 24. It is in Bastien as #554.






Nothing special about this coin except it is ex-Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943) was the founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and inventor of the Corn Flake...and I like blue!


Constantine I
A.D. 316
20x21mm 3.3g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, across fields T-F
In ex. BTR
RIC VII Trier 105







Issued during the 1st Civil War between Constantine I and Licinius I...the captive must reference Licinius.

Constantine I
A.D. 316- 317
19x20mm 3.7g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. L., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys spread, captive to left wearing Phrygian cap and raising arm.
in ex. RP
cf. RIC VII Rome 52

RIC lists this type as Sol with chlamys across l. shoulder; while on this coin the cloak is spread over both shoulders.








This coin was issued during the first civil war with Licinius, that’s why there is the variation of the reverse legend (Sol, unconquerable companion "of our Lord") and Sol holding victory.


Constantine I
A.D. 316
21mm 4.3gm
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICT COM D N; Sol rad., stg. L., raising r. hand, Victory on globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder.
in left field ✶, in right crescent.
In ex. RT
RIC VII Rome 49





There is a captive in the mintmark...probably a reference to the !st civil war with Licinius.

Constantine I
A.D. 318- 319
18x21mm 3.4gm
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVI-CTO COMITI, Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder.
In ex. P captive to the right A
RIC VII Arles 184




Not listed in RIC with this reverse for Constantine I, though a few others are known

Constantine I
A.D. 317
18x20mm 3.5gm
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate & cuirassed bust right.
CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE; Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, in fields T/F
In ex. BTR
RIC VII Trier –-




Look at that obverse bust...there is even a wolf and twins on the shield.


Constantine I
A.D. 315
21x22mm 3.1g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; cuirassed bust left wearing laureate helmet with wreath on side; shield with wolf and twins on left, Victory on globe in right, presenting wreath to Constantine.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol stg. left, raising r. hand, globe in l.; chlamys across l. shoulder; across fields T/F.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons 22; Bastien 553




unlisted in RIC

Constantine I
A.D. 317- 318
20x21mm 3.9g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and trabeated bust left, holding eagle tipped sceptre in right hand.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder; in left field C, in right S.
In ex. SARL
RIC VII Arles --





unlisted bust type

Constantine I
A.D. 316
16x17mm 3.6g
CONSTANTINVS P AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right with spear over right shoulder and shield on left.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder; across fields A- S.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons -; Bastien --





imperatorial gestus-- notice that the hand gesture is different from the standard hand raised adlocutio

Constantine I
A.D. 316
19x20mm 3.4gm
CONSTANTINVS AVG; bust left, laureate, cuirassed and raising right hand.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder. A/S across fields.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons --; Bastien 605

not in RIC for the L2 l. bust, it should be listed after Lyons 61. It is, however, in Bastien, with one example noted.





I like this one for the martial bust

Constantine I
A.D. 311-312
Ӕ nummus 22x23mm 3.9g
CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust left with spear over right shoulder and shield on left arm.
COMITI AVGG NN; Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, right hand holding up globe, whip in left, in right field ✶.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 184; LMCC 7.03.048





I got this one for the unlisted reverse field mark

Constantine I
A.D. 314
Ӕ nummus 20x21mm 3.5g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. l., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder; in l. field S •, in right F.
in ex. PLN
RIC VII London 10 var; LMCC 8.02.015 var





Sol in a quadriga is very rare

Constantine I
A.D. 314- 315
21mm 4.0g
CONSTANTINVS P AVG; laureate and trabeate bust left.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol standing left in spread quadriga, raising right hand, globe and whip in left; S/P across fields.
In ex. MSL
RIC VII London 81/84 corr.; LMCC 8.07.030





another one not in RIC

Constantine I
A.D. 317- 318
19mm 3.4g
CONSTANTINVS P AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE, Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder; in left field crescent, ✶ in right.
In ex. PLN
RIC VII London –; LMCC 8.12.002


Post some (interesting) (Constantine) Sol coinage

 

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Another great sub-set. I own no Constantine I/Sol. Just this humble bronze, I got from your store.


Constantine the Great (307 - 337 A.D.)
Billon centenionalis
O: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right.
R: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS (blessed tranquility), globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, •STR and crescent in exergue.
Treveri (Trier) mint, 323 A.D
3.32g
19mm
RIC VII Trier 389

Published on Wildwinds!

 

A whip fromTicinum

Constantine II
Mint: Ticinum
316/317 AD
AE 3
Obvs: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB CAES, Laureate draped and cuir right.
Revs: CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE, SOL advancing holding whip. P to left, TT in exergue.
19mm, 3.90g
Ref: RIC VII 80


Constantine I
Trier mint
310 to 313 AD
AE Follis
Obvs: IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate, and cuirassed bust right.
Revs: SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Radiate bust of sol right.
23x24mm, 3.98g
RIC VI 890

 

I don't have any truly interesting variations. These are the closest that I have to being interesting.

Constantine the Great - London

Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left holding globe in left and raising right
Minted in London (T | F / PLN) A.D. Autumn A.D. 310
Reference(s) – RIC VI London 122 var. LMCC 6.02.011 var

4.47g. 23.55 mm. 180 degrees

Sol is usually depicted as holding the globe sitting in a flat palm and in this pose the chlamys draped to the left of the globe, Here the globe is bein held with the palm wrapped around the outside of the globe with the globve towards the body. The chlamys in this case drapes to the right. The RIC plate coin (Plate 1) of this type can be seen to be the normal depiction. I am not claiming this ti be a different type but an variation applied by the engraver but it certainly stands out as being different alongside it's peers.



Lugdunum produced a number of variations....

Walking with whip:


Walking with globe:


This one is the standard sol type but isn't listed in RIC or any of the Bastien volumes with this obverse legend. It is planned to be included in the next Bastien supplement.

Obv:– CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:- SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI, Sol standing left holding globe in left hand and raising right
Minted in Lugdunum (F | T / PLC).
Reference:– RIC VI Lugdunum -. Bastien -. Bastien Suppl I -, Bastien Suppl II -.

4.76 gms. 0 degrees. 22.77 mm.



Martin

 

I particularly like the SOLI INVICTO with captive. (It's interesting that this captive is holding his arm up, almost like an adlocutio gesture. Usually the captive's hands are down on these.)

There was a very nice one of those at CNG a couple days ago that I was hoping no one would notice and I could steal. (They noticed. Whoever won: "Maple Leaf Collection" was the moniker Triskeles used for Terrence Cheesman.) But I re-read the paper about those on your academia when I saw it. Still waiting to find the right one.


Here's my most recent Constantine Sol (from the Ken Bressett Sale at CNG):


And a shameful photo of my first (acq. late 1980s in St. Louis for $16, at St. Louis Stamp & Coin?):

 

I like these and have some fun ones I can post later. First a quick coin and question…

What’s the hardest to find mint for these? We haven’t had a Siscia mint posted. I have one below. Are there any harder to find mint cities?

Constantine I. AE follis of Siscia.
IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
SOLI INVI-CTO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe and raising right hand. Star in left field.
Mintmark ΓSIS. RIC VII Siscia 31.

 

Yes, Siscia mint seemed to produce less Sol coinage than the other mints.

 

I just won this one--




Constantine I
A.D. 310-13
22mm 4.2g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; radiate and draped bust of Sol right, seen from rear.
RIC VI Trier 893

 

I have a few more Sol coins to add.


I like the one below because of the mintmark-- MSL (MONETA SACRA LONDON)


Constantine I
A.D. 314-315
20x21mm 2.6g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. l., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder; in left field S, in right field P.
in ex. MSL
RIC VII London 70; LMCC 8.07.012






Constantine I
A.D. 312- 313
22mm 5.3g
IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed (with gorgon) bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. right, raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys over left and falling on either side.
in ex. RT
RIC VI Rome 332



The coin below is from Chitry hoard; which was discovered in 2007 in France. It contained around 2500 bronze coins from the late 3rd century to the early 4th century.




Constantine I
A.D. 312- 313
20mm 3.4g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. l., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys over l. shoulder; in left field ✶
in ex. PLN
RIC VI London 279; LMCC 8.01.006

Ex trésor de Chitry, #701


and the last is a martial bust which must reference the Civil War between Constantine and Licinius. It's in rough state. but is not listed in RIC.



Constantine I
A.D. 317
19mm 2.7g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right; spear across right shoulder and shield on left.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, across fields T-F.
in ex. •ATR
RIC VII Trier –-