I have been looking for a nice example of this type for a good chunk of the year, I was outbid in a few auctions and found a couple of others that had one problem or another, so I have just been waiting and looking. Until today when I came across this example: Constantine the Great, Follis, Obv.: Laurel and cuirassed bust facing right IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev.: Mars advancing right holding spear and shield MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI, SA in field and PTR in ex. It is 26mm in diameter and has a weight of 7.7g This coin was issued at the Treveri Mint in AD 307 (according to Sear) and in the Summer of AD 307 (according to RIC). It is SR-15541 and RIC VI 776. How did I do? Please show your example if you have one.
That is just beautiful. I do not collect coins of Constantine, but that one would definitely have a place in my collection. A wonderful coin!
WOW, This looks like you were paid directly from the Trier Mint! Nice. I do not collect later Empire (anything after 1 BCE ), but I do have a Constantine I and his mommy... RI Constantine I Folles 306-337 CE Captives VOTA Banner RI Helena mother of Constantine I AE Follis Securitas Nicomedia mint 325-326 CE 19mm 3.3g RIC-95 Sear 16619
That is a very nice example of a great type. You mentioned that it was 26mm and finding large Constantines is much harder than the rulers immediately before him.
That is a great example and I really like the Mars reverse. Awesome way to close out the year! Happy New Year !
Man, for a LRB, that one's quite impressive. Big. Great surfaces. Near-perfect centering. Full circle of beads on the obverse. The late Empire doesn't interest me quite as much from a numismatic/aesthetic standpoint (though the history of that era is every bit as fascinating as what went before). But I must say I am impressed with that coin. PS- and Mars looks quite... umm... martial there. Chest out... cloak billowing... weaponry bristling... very bold.
Thanks everyone for the kind comments, always good the get the thumbs up from you guys on a new purchase.
I'm lucky, I have a wife that supports my coin collecting and goes along with having 20% of our assets in rare coins and precious metal. This is what she gave me for Christmas: I'm a big Nolan Ryan fan. So this is my last coin for 2016.
