Got this in the mail today. It's another FH, from Amiens. Out of over 2000 listed in RIC, there are only 3 from Amiens so it's a bit harder to find. I luckily have 2 now. It's not a great strike nut it's in decent condition. Constantius II 21.4mm, 2.98g, Die Axis 180o D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right; / FEL TEMP REPARATIO, soldier standing left, spearing [Hair straight ?] up horseman who is reaching backwards, AMB in ex. Amiens 46 The strong points make up for the weak points on my other Amiens but hopefully I can find a nicer one that I can afford. Constantius II AE22. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right; A behind bust / FEL TEMP REPARATIO, soldier standing left, spearing Hair straight up horseman who is reaching backwards, AMB in ex. Amiens 48 Feel free to share anything you feel relevant
Lets mention that all Amiens coins of the type have the mintmark AMB. Coins of Antioch, second officina read ANB but the difference between the M and the N is not always clear. Both of Randy's coins are identified correctly. More diagnostic than the mintmark is the way the hair is shown in horizontal bands at the back of the neck. I have one Constantius II and one Constantius Gallus. ....so what is the coin below?
Curiouser and curiouser. That hair, I mean. Your last coin is obviously not from Amiens, although those locks are gracefully curved. ANB must be Antiochia officina B. Great! I never knew there were Roman coins minted in Amiens. It must be the northwesternmost continental Roman mint.
Here is an Amiens mint coin of Magnentius. The mint was established by Magnentius in 350 and continued minting for a short while after it fell to Constantius II in 353. The emperors on its coins are Magnentius, Decentius, Constantius II, and Constantius Gallus: 22 mm. 2.55 grams. VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES Two Victories holding shield with VOT/V/MVLT/X Christian cross-rho above, AMB in exergue. RIC Amiens 20, struck 315-2. Failmezger 441. I believe this coin was found in England.
I only have one Amiens FTR. I saw the OP coin up for sale and am glad you got it. Constantius II - AE2 Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right, A behind bust Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Helmeted soldier left, shield on left arm, spearing falling horseman; shield at ground to right. Horseman turns to face the soldier, and reaches his left arm up towards him. He is bare headed Minted in Amiens (//AMB). 353 AD. Reference:- RIC VIII Amiens 48 (C) Ex John Casey Collection 22 mm, 5.08g John was employed at Durham between 1972 and 2000, retiring as Reader in Archaeology. He was a well-known Romanist and numismatics scholar who undertook excavations at the Roman forts of Brecon Gaer (nr Aberyscir) and Segontium (Gwynedd), the Roman town of Venta Silurum (Caerwent), the Roman temple at Lydney (Gloucestershire) and the Greta Bridge vicus in County Durham. His books included Coins and the Archaeologist (1974, 2nd ed. 1988), The end of Roman Britain (1979), Roman coinage in Britain (1980), Understanding Ancient Coins (1986). He was the author of numerous articles on Roman coinage and hoards, including the finds from Piercebridge.
Of the Magnentius mints, Amiens is my favorite. While mine is small and unimpressive, the Amiens large Chi-Rho AE1 coins an really be impressive when full diameter and boldly struck. I do not have a Decentius of this mint. Many strike me as barbarous. The large Chi-Rho type from Amiens in the name of Decentius is very rare. Want list!
