Mules (a.k.a. hybrids) are coins that combine an obverse type and reverse type that were not intended to be issued together. Mules can be produced when a mint is minting for two or more rulers simultaneously and a reverse die intended for ruler B is accidentally used with the obverse of ruler A. Lars Ramskold, a specialist in coins of the era of Constantine, tells me this coin is from an issue of Arles with numerous overstrikes and some mules. Lars says "most overstrikes are on Licinius' eastern IOVI CONSERVATORI issues, coins that were not recognized by Constantine." The issue is shared between Constantine as Augustus and Crispus and Constantine II as Caesars. It is distinguished by the mintmark P✳AR (the place of P can be held by S, T, or Q) and dated by RIC to 322-3. 22-20 mm. 3.03 grams. Notice the double rim on the left side of the reverse which shows it was overstruck. The obverse of this type is for Constantine II CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C which, in this issue, usually has a "VOT/X" reverse with CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around the laurel wreath. That reverse is visually quite similar to this reverse which belongs to Constantine, "VOT/XX" and CONSTANTINI MAX AVG around the laurel wreath. P and S were the officinae for Constantine, and T and Q were for Crispus and Constantine II. So, this coin is a mint mistake of the sort called a hybrid or mule. RIC Arles 277/252-3, page 261. Show us anything related!
Here is one of my Byzantine mules: Byzantine Empire: Constans II (641-668) Æ Half Follis, Carthage (Sear-1060/1059 Mule) Obv: Crowned and draped bust facing, holding mappa and globus cruciger, crown ornamented with cross Rev: Large cross; C-T above X-X across field; above, star between two pellets This coin has the reverse type of SB 1059, with pellets to either side of the star on the reverse, but has the obverse type of SB 1060, with Constans' crown ornamented with a cross instead of a trefoil
Republic Mule Fouree RR fourée mule anon Q Fabius Labeo denarius 18mm 2.9g after 124 BC Roma X Jupiter Quadriga tbolt scepter Cr 159 obv Cr 273-1 rev
ROMAN IMPERIAL, Trajanus Denomination: Fourree AR denarius, minted: Uncertain Obv: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate head of Trajan to the right Rev: AEQVITAS AVGVST; Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left Weight: 2.43g; Ø:1.9mm Catalogue: Unpublished variant Provenance: Ex priv col; acq.: 12-2018 Probably a mule of Nerva (reigned 96-98). Obverse type is minted after 112 AD, while the reverse (AEQVITAS AVGVST) is only minted during Nerva's reign, in the years 96-97 AD (3 aurei, 4 denari in total).
Nice examples! I only own one official mule, a coin of Constantine with a PROVIDENTIAE CAESS reverse intended for Crispus or Constantine Jr Interestingly, this one is from T*AR - Arles, third officina - which did not mint for Constantine as Augustus, so why did they have his obverse die? Other, less official mules: Marcus Aurelius lifetime obverse with a Divus Lucius Verus reverse - whoopsie! Fourree with exposed core This one I am not 100% sure on - it is not official, but I'm not sure it is a fourree either? Perhaps a barbarian imitation? Caracalla obverse with BRIT title (and an unusual portrait?) CONCORDIAE reverse found only on coins of Plautilla Caracalla didn't earn his BRIT title until 211, so the fact that this coin is coupled with a reverse of his wife whom he banished in 205 rules out that it could be any sort of official mule.
You are probably right, and I considered this. On the other hand: it would be silly to state that Trajan was victorious over the Germans, or COS VI before he did/became these things. So, there is a bit certainty regarding the minimum age. Of course, it could be minted much later.
That is from the same issue as the coin in the original post, which had a Constantine reverse of officina P with a Constantine II obverse that should not have been used at that officina. Normally it is assumed the obverse dies were in anvils that belonged to a particular officina. In this case Constantine obverses were at officinae P and S (prima, secunda). It seems that the Arles at that time did not always keep track of which reverses should go where. Your third-officina-die (T = tertia) went to P or S instead. In the case of the OP coin, coins of Constantine II were struck at officina Q (quarta), but it somehow got a reverse that should have gone to P for Constantine.
A muling of an obverse of Philip with a reverse of Gordian (I also have a note that it could be a modern fake, but I can't recall where that came from).
