Most late Roman emperors after Constantine issued a limited number of types. If you get out your reference works and list them all you may find the list of AE types is short enough to aspire to get them all. However, there is usually a very rare type or two that will keep you from finishing the set. Five years ago Gorny & Mosch had an extremely rare (R4) AE4 of Jovian (363-364) that I had never before (or since) seen offered. I just checked and it is still the case that none are on acsearch or CNG. I thought, if I could get that one, completion of a type set was within reach because Jovian issued only four AE types (not counting mints, etc -- just types) and the other three are commonly available. So, I bid much higher than I might have otherwise and won the coin. Then I put together my site on AE types of Jovian: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Jovian/Jovian.html Consider the same thought process with another emperor, Constantius Gallus (351-354). If you collect late Roman coins or seek one of each ruler, you know that his most common type is FEL TEMP REPARATIO soldier-spearing-fallen-horseman. In fact, it is the type of more than 90% of his coins offered. If you only want one, you can be done with one soldier-spearing-fallen-horseman. However, do you know what else was issued in his name? (Probably you don't care.) I went looking and found ten AE types in RIC VIII. I think one very rare listed type is actually an unintended mule, so that brings it down to nine official types, with two further varieties of significant interest. Could I get them all? No. A few are just too rare--too seldom offered. But, I can tell you what I learned about AE of Constantius Gallus. I can list and illustrate the types on a web site: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Gallus/ Here is a recent acquisition which is on the page: 25-23 mm. (Large) 5.53 grams. Emperor standing left on galley, holding victory on globe crowning him, with left hand holding standard with chi-rho, galley steered by Victory holding a rudder. III in left field, * in right field. ΔSIS in exergue. RIC Siscia 329 Near the bottom of the page there is a table of frequencies. It shows the "galley" type, which is common for other emperors, is on only about 2% of all Gallus coins. Unfortunately, there are five types rarer than this one that make it unlikely I can complete the set. So be it. There are lots of other coins to desire and lots of other web sites to write. In the process I'll have lots of fun learning about ancient coins. As our member @TIF would say, "This is fun!" Show us a coin of Constantius Gallus!
Here's a very attractive one from my old folders. I learned that the mint mark there is not common at all, maybe unpublished. Congrats on your new website Val.
I only have the common ones but will point out that by far the rarest if you count mints are the Falling Horsemen shown below. Amiens Trier
I see the mintmark as ANBI with S in the upper left field. That makes it RIC Antioch 149 or 151. The position of the horseman makes it 149, listed as "S". Officina in that issue go up to "EI" (15) and only 4 (B, Z, H, AI) of the 15 are cited, not including your "BI", so it is unlisted in RIC.
This is one of the emperors I have missed so far. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a good example in the near future.
Nice page, Warren! I can add a provincial . EGYPT, Alexandria; Constantius I tetradrachm / Elpis; regnal year 1, Emmett 4185
Thanks for sharing the page, Warren. Enlightening, as usual! CONSTANTIUS GALLUS AE2. 4.08g, 23.5mm. Antioch mint, AD 351-354. RIC VIII Antioch 134. O: DN CONSTANTI-VS NOB CAES, bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, soldier standing left, head lowered, holding round shield and spearing fallen bearded horseman who is raising hand; Γ in left field, ANBI in exergue. Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection
I have too many to kill this thread with and so willlimit to a couple that I think are of slight interest. Here is a Siscia - Galley like the ones above but with an obverse spelling error Constantius Gallus - AE2 Obv:- D N CONSTANTIVS IVN NBO(sic) C, Bare headed draped & cuirassed bust right; A Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor standing left on galley, holding Victory on globe and labarum; Victory behind, steering galley Minted in Siscia (III | * // BSIS) Reference:– RIC VIII Siscia 329 var (would be C but obverse legend error) 5.16 gms. 23.42 mm. 180 degrees An uneven strike means this Antioch isn't a gem but what has been struck is quite pleasing Constantius Gallus - AE2 Obv:– DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is bare headed, reaching backwards Minted in Antioch (Gamma | _ // ANA), A.D. 350-355 Reference:– RIC VIII Antioch 134 I have failed to attribute this one:- Constantius Gallus - AE3 Obv:– DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right; A behind bust Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is wearing a Phrygian cap, reaching backwards Minted in Siscia (// BSIS), Reference:– It would appear to be unlisted unless I am missing something. It measures 19.20 mm and weighs 2.44 gms I found a Lugdunum horseman harder to find than I expected. Anyone else have one? Constantius Gallus - AE3 Obv:– DN CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right Rev:– FEL TEMP - REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is bare headed, reaching back towards the emperor Minted in Lugsunum (//GSLG), Reference:– RIC VIII Lugdunum 192 (R2). 1.85 gms. 17.74 mm. 0 degrees This one might be scarce. Constantius Gallus - AE2 Obv:– DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right (D behind bust) Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is wearing a Phrygian cap, falling forward clutching his horse. Minted in Rome (Gamma | _ // RE), 26th September A.D. 352 - 6th November A.D. 355. Third Series Reference:– RIC VIII Rome 265 var (Listed for P and S both of which are R, Dane Kueth has a matching coin with E from different dies)
When I posted the OP at the link: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Gallus/ I included some rarity data. One of our members, @randygeki , was kind enough to point out one of the rarer types had just come up on eBay. (Thank you, Randy. I had checked for Gallus types repeatedly before posting, but you never know what will appear at any time.) I bid high and it went high (too bad!). Here it is and it is now on my site. GLORIA ROMANORVM (from Siscia only) Failmezger 418 RIC Siscia 356 "S" [I'd say rare or very rare.] This coin: 21-18 mm. 2.46 grams. RIC Siscia 356 If one of the other rare types appears, let me know!
