The coin you probably have

Hi there,

I guess that most members of CT already have some variation of this "Victory Prow" coin.
During the recent years I encountered many examples of this coin, I believe you've got one since its very common, very cheap and very beautiful IMO (as an amateur collector I find the helmeted bust a very cool style representing ancient times...).

Here is one of my examples:


So here are a few questions for your experts:

Are there any examples of this style worth more than a few bucks? I guess that even an extra fine example will be still affordable but are there any rare variations?

Any information you can tell me about this specific example?

Have a nice weekend & happy (coin) hunting.

 

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Here's a couple great pages of information on the "City Commemorative" series with some information and variants of this type, both created by members here at CoinTalk:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/comm/

Some of the more sought after versions of this particular type are the coins with a chi-rho symbol. I have one... but it's pretty ugly.

 

It seems relatively few people specialize in these trying to get a set of all major variations so the market price is mostly based on condition and style. The Nikomedia mint 2.6g example below is well struck on a good flan and shows the variant case ending in -i rather than -is. The weight tells us it was produced alongside the two soldier, two standards portrait series.


The later, lighter (under 2g.) series that accompanied the two soldier, one standard coins are less well made and harder to find in good shape. Shallow collectors like me avoid them so I only have one from Antioch to show. It was selected for the spelling error NI for IN but I doubt there are enough people willing to overlook the lesser surfaces to give it the value of the prettier coin above.

 

Some collect these Constantinopolis commemoratives by mint. This one is from the Trier mint.


Constantine I, AD 307-337.
Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 2.51 g, 17.1 mm, 6 h.
Trier, AD 330-331.
Obv:CONSTANTINOPOLIS, laureate, helmeted and mantled bust, left, holding scepter over shoulder.
Rev: Victory standing left on prow, holding scepter and shield; TRP• in exergue.
Refs: RIC vii, p. 215, 530; LRBC I 59; RCV 16444; Cohen 21.

 

I suppose that someone who has collected every US Lincoln cent except for the 1909-S V.D.B. could put together complete CONSTANTINOPOLIS and VRBS ROMA commemorative sets for less than it would cost to complete their penny set.

And you'd have cooler coins, too!

 

Very interesting. I noticed that my variant is also the one that ends with 'I' rather than 'IS'... didn't pay attention to this before.

 

This one and the inscription-less variant can go for a few hundred. I did a write up on these a couple of years ago.

 

Here's another one I've got, looks very similar...

 

Here's my only of the type, similar to Doug's but the more common spelled correctly version. Reasonably priced and bought early in my collecting habit.

Constantine I, AE3
Constantinople Commemertive, 337-347 AD, Antioch Mint
Obverse: CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS, bust left, wearing laureate and crested helmet, necklace and ornamental mantle over left shoulder, holding scepter.
Reverse: Victory standing left, foot on prow, holding transverse sceptre and resting left hand on shield with central boss, Star (or dot?) in top right field.
Exergue: SMANI.
Reference: RIC VIII Antioch 38

 

I have a couple of these. One from Aquileia, and one from the city of Lugdunum. Finally re-pictured as they were due for new ones.

 

Beautiful examples

 

Now you wonderful CT folks got me interested in Ancients . I'm going to have to check into some .
Thanks everyone.

 

@Ima Dragon
One of my earliest goals as a new collector was to own a Constantinople and Roma commemorative..




Struck in AD330's ... They are very common ancient coins. But they are common because they were important, and struck in huge volumes due to this great event in the history of the Roman Empire.

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html

Read the history and I think we may capture you as a new ancient collector!

 

Thanks a bunch for the information on the Ancients . I really like those you showed . I'm going to have to get some more , I do have one Roman Silver Denarius I won at auction after coming to CT . Yeah , I'm Hooked already !
Thanks everyone for letting me in the group . I'm lovin it very much .

 

Thanks @Clavdivs , this is an excellent article. I actually have a VRBS ROMA imitation coin:

 

I'm glad to have those two..20 euro a piece..first is a cyzicus mint..ric 92 r3.below..Nicomedia mint..ric 195..smal coins but great to have..but never seen such a rare wolverine.

 

Coin Talk is a good group of people interested in Ancients but the ones who get the most out of the CT experience are the ones who participate fully. Don't tell us you have a denarius, show us and tell everyone what you have learned about it (who, what, why, when - whatever seems interesting). No matter how little you know about it, there is another lurking out there that would benefit from what you know and the discussion of a coin - any coin - that they may not have seen before or another specimen exactly like the one they have. Coin Talk is free in the cash sense but you have to put in some sweat equity if you are going to reap full benefits.

Welcome.