SOLI INVICTO COMITI variety

If that's not a cape, I don't know what is. Don't forget the whip! Sol means business.

EDIT: Oh, and I forgot to mention: challenge accepted!

 

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Another from Arles, same as above but with Gamma MM.


Obverse : IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG
Reverse : SOLI INVICTO COMITI - M-F in fields
MM - ARLr ( gamma )
Weight 4.26g, Size 20mm

 

Here's a half-follis, without the COMITI, just because one hasn't been added to the thread yet, and also because we generally don't see too many of them.


CONSTANTINE I
AE Half-Follis. 1.73g, 18.2mm. Trier mint, AD 310-311. RIC VI Trier 899 (scarce). O: CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right. R: SOLI IN-VICTO, Sol radiate, standing left, raising right hand, globe in left hand, chlamys across left shoulder; PTR in exergue.

 

I’ve posted this one before in its own thread. Here’s what seems to be an exceedingly common SOLI INVICTO from Rome, except for one thing. Typically these have an X in the left field, but this one seems to have a Latin (Christian?) cross control mark typically only used at Ticinum. I got it for that reason, but it just might be a poorly executed X that got turned 45°

 

x

 

x

 

I believe I read somewhere (not sure where) that some mints used stamps to stamp letters into dies when making them. Maybe the mint worker was doing this, didn't get the alignment right and stamped the 'x' wrong. Maybe he did it deliberately to make the sign of the cross. Whatever is the case, that is an incredible coin, common or not.

Here's mine, 3rd officina.

 

This thread is a bit cool, but if I waited for this coin to arrive, it would be positively cold. I’m going to risk the jinx and post this coin that I just won at the latest Triskeles auction. It went for its low estimate. Not a beauty pageant winner, but these issues from Siscia, as we’ve noted, are a bit scarce. Seller’s pic.

Either the photograph is funky, or looks like it might be a double strike.

 

Nice coin! I'm afraid I can't post similar. But a few days ago, I repictured my SOLI INVICTO COMITIs from Rome.

Here's how the Licinius that I got from @Valentinian a while ago turned out. I like how Sol has a really cute face in this one.

 

Not from Constantine nor Probus, not of copper and not showing the common Sol standing, holding globe and raising hand even if he is holding globe and raising hand.

​

 

I thought I’d pile on this old thread here. In recent weeks I’ve completed a mini-set of these Constantine SOL INVICTUS coins from each of the 9 mints that issued them. This is a very do-able set in VF-EF for less than $50 / coin. Only Ostia and Siscia get a little scarce. A few comments about the individual coins:

1. Aquileia: An eBay purchase. About $20-25.

2. Arles: In an uncleaned lot. One that needs upgrading.

3. London: A $2 eBay bottom-feeding shocker. But you get what you pay for. Another coin that needs upgrading.

4. Lyon: Made an offer to Besancon Numismatique. About $31 shipped. A very nice coin.

5. Ostia: I kept shopping for this one and never saw one much better than the one Glenn Simonelli had on eBay for under $50 for one of the scarcer issues. My only coin from Ostia. Decent detail and one of the most generous flans I’ve ever seen for a type. Nothing missing here.

6. Rome: I have a few of these from Rome now. This may be the nicest, and with the nicest provenance. @Victor_Clark came to speak to my university last week (more on that later), and at dinner later that night, he took out a stack of VF-EF Constantine coins and let the four persons besides him and his wife choose their favorite as a gift. This was my selection.

7. Siscia: A scarcer issue that was a pleasing win from VCoins Triskeles Auction Sale 331, Lot 257; ex “Maple Leaf Collection.” Only $35 shipped.

8. Ticinum: I got this one for the cross—possibly the earliest Christian symbol on a circulating Roman coin. From Tom Vossen. I think this one is the most expensive coin pictured, at $47.

9. Trier: I made an offer to Lucernae on eBay. $38 later this was mine.

It was fun putting this little set together. Now I think I will work on some interesting varieties of this issue, like Sol facing, or with captives, etc.

 

That's a fun set! Now you just have to put one together for Licinius! I wonder if all 9 mints made coins for him as well...

I have most of those... but the one I know I don't have is Ostia (I checked, I need Aquelia and Ostia). I'll be on the lookout!

 

Edited to delete my Licinius that I had already posted on page 2.

Then... If you really like the Sol pose... you could collect him on C's kid's coins but with a different legend.

Constantine II Arles RIC 157

 

Here's a Sol with captive from Aquileia

Constantine I
A.D. 316- 317
18x21mm 3.2gm
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 across l. shoulder; captive seated to left.
in ex. AQT
RIC VII Aquileia 1

 

Very beautiful coins with Sol above
I wanted to share a few more with you
Aquileia and lugdunum