One thing to like about late Roman coins is the possibility of getting interesting bust types. They are not all just "laureate right (or, less commonly, left)" or "radiate right (or left)." Many have an attractive and unusual bust type. The variety of types greatly increases under Probus (276-282) (which I sure is one cause of his popularity with collectors) and continues into the fourth century. Here is a very common reverse type under the first tetrarchy: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia. This one has the minor Lugdunum (Lyons) variety with the altar to the left of Genius. Of greater interest is the bust left (not uncommon) with Constantius holding a scepter over his right (far) shoulder (not common). Constantius I, Caesar 293-305 and Augustus 305-306. CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES Bust left, cuirassed, with his right hand visible holding a scepter over his right shoulder. Struck "c. 301-303" [according to RIC] RIC VI Lyons 144a, page 251. From the recent Berk sale.
An interesting bust, and also some interesting purple on that coin! I like the abdication folli of Maximianus and (here) Diocletian (Rome mint). He's holding a branch and mappa, and wearing an "imperial mantle". According to David Sear, the mappa was "originally the white napkin dropped by an emperor or magistrate as a starting signal at the Circus, in late Roman iconography it came to be a used as one of the principal attributes of the consuls."
@Valentinian , you got me searching...I have VERY few Roman Imperial SINISTER (Left) Emperor Busts... I have 142 of the Roman Rulers... This is a Provincial... RI Philip II 244-249 Nisibis Mesopotamia-farthest EAST Temple RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia sinister left RI Licinius II 317-324 CE Folles Jupiter w Eagle Antioch RI Tiberius AE As 14-37 CE Laureate-Pont Max Globe Rudder sinister left RIC I 58
For interesting bust types I picked the below coin for this thread because of the bust's resemblance to a contemporary statue. I don't have the statue's bust handy...I'll look for it... Not sure if this qualifies as the late empire. Constantius I as Caesar, AD 293-305 Æ Follis, 29mm, 9.6g, 12h; Trier mint, AD 303 Obv.: CONSTANTIVS NOBIL C, laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev.: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, wearing modius on head, holding patera and cornucopiae; S-F In Ex.: ITR
Probus has a massive amount of bust variety. Collecting them all would be costly. This is one of my nicest Probus busts. Imperial mantle. Holding globe with Victoriola. A simpler version for Diocletian. Mantle and globe.
Very cool thread and so many wonderful posts!! Well, I'm not sure how unusual the busts are but I'll pile on with attractive portrait of a left-facing Probus and Licinius II:
These third century treasures combine crazy bust types with a) superior style (to their fourth century counterparts), b) gold (you can never go wrong with that...), and c) uniqueness. How can one beat that? too bad none of us will ever touch one of these...
Consular busts are rare withe the family of Carus. This right facing one is only known from one die. As far as I am aware mine is only the second known example. Here is an almost equally scarce right facing Numerian in mantle with sceptre.
Great thread, Valentinian! I've often wondered whether dexter and sinister portraits in Roman coins had the same significance as in medieval heraldry. Anyway, I think all of these are Vespasians now—LOL! I had a Titus in my last posting (not intentionally) The one on the bottom right is facing left.
For some bust types the sinister is much more common than the dexter. For every 100 or more sinister mantle coins if Probus there is 1 dexter. This one also from an unlisted issue.
I like the occasional shrunken heads of the princes Licinius and Constantine. The really detailed ones are quite special...
Here is a bust of Maximianus who had Hercules as his patron. Not only does it have an inscription mentioning Hercules on the reverse and a reverse type with Hercules standing (holding Victory on globe and holding the lion skin and leaning on his club), but it also has the rare bust type with radiate bust left holding club over his right shoulder and with a lion's head on his left shoulder (from the lion skin of Hercules). HERCVLI INVICTO AVGG 22 mm. 3.85 grams. RIC V.II -- but cf. 370 (a different bust type) and 367 (a different obverse legend) Bastien 190 "Struck 287-289" from the Lugdunum mint (Lyons) From the recent Leu sale.
Interesting topic. Some gems to be found there (already some nice ones above) Probus, Antoninianus Siscia mint IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate ust of Probus left, wearing imperial mantle (bust type H) SOLI INVICTO, Sol in quadriga, XXIT at exergue 3.77 gr Ref : Cohen #662, RCV # 12038 var, RIC 767 Maximianus, Abdication Follis Serdica mint, 1st officina, AD 305-306 DN MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa and olive branch PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QUIES AVGG, Quies and Providentia, facing each other, S | F in field, .SM.SD. at exergue, officina A 10,70 gr Ref : Cohen #489, RCV # 13408 (220), RIC VI # 15b Constans, AE2 Rome mint, 1st officina D N CONSTA NS P F AVG, draped and diademed bust left, holding globe in right hand FEL.TEMP.REPARATIO, Virtus walking right dragging captive out of his hut. R*P at exergue 4.2 gr Ref : Cohen # 19, LRBC # 604 Valentinianus II, AE2 Constantinople mint, 4th officina D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust of Valentinian, holding spear in right hand GLORIA RO-MANORUM, Valentinain standing on a galley, driven by a victory, Wreath in field, CON delta at exergue 4.93 gr Ref : RIC # 52, Cohen #22, RC #4161, LRBC #2151 Q
