At the time this coins was struck (347-48) Constantius II was Augustus of the East with his brother Constans as ruler of the West (for the time being.....) This little coin has quite a few things going for it in my books: The price was only $7 - which really is one of the reasons to shy away from "uncleaned" coins. You can get nice, identifiable coins for only a little more (for me this is "live and learn"). This is a nice little example for the price. Although far from perfect, it has some really detailed artwork on such a small flan (16mm). I really love the bust .. it is excellent in my book - and while the reverse is a little off center and a bit rough it is acceptable to me. This is my first coin featuring the "VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN" reverse legend. One that I really like.. I have seen a few slightly different translations to this but it is something like: Victoriae duorum dominorum augusti que nostrorum - to the Victory(ies) of our Two Lord Emperors. Obv: CONSTANTIVS P F AVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantius II. Rev: VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN - Two victories, facing each other, each holding wreath and palm; Leaf between, TRS in ex. (Trier mint). I am sure there are some really great examples out there.. please post!
What a great price on that. I paid $9 for a comparatively poor example with mushy details and a polished appearance. Shows that I'm still too much of a noob to know what to do lol
These were the smallest Roman imperial coins minted before the reforms of AD 349 produced the AE2 Falling Horsemen. But they would not remain the smallest - the last of the AE4's in the 5th century would get even smaller. Here are two of Constans...
Nice looking coin, Clavdivs. I only have a couple of Constantius II, and I find them to be interesting, though I don't actively seek them out. This one was free - an eBay seller included it with a sestertius I bought. Constantius II Æ 15 (347-348 A.D.) Alexandria mint 3rd Officina DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed head right / VOT XX MVLT XXX in four lines in wreath, mintmark SMALG in exergue. RIC VIII Alexandria 33. (2.01 grams / 15 mm) This is a new one, from a lot of miscellaneous stuff: Constantius II Æ 17 (c. 355-361 A.D.) Siscia Mint DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust r. / FEL TEMPREPARATIO soldier spearing fallen horseman, bare-headed, reaching backwards, M in field; Γ SISΔ in exergue. RIC VIII Siscia 372. (2.27 grams / 17 mm)
Many of my Constantius II coins came from uncleaned lots and they look it. This one is my most photogenic: Constantius II, AD 337-361. Roman Æ 3 (1/4 maiorina?), 2.36 g, 18.7 mm, 11 h. Siscia, AD 348-49, fifth officina. Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Phoenix, nimbate, standing right on mound of rocks; ЄSIS(symbol 5) in exergue. Refs: RIC viii p. 366, 240; LRBC II 1133; RCV 18250; Cohen 58.
I have one coin of Constantius II: Constantius II Caesar, silvered reduced AE Follis, Trier Mint 326 AD. Obv. laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left, FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C / Rev. Camp-gate with no doors and two turrets, star above; PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS. In exergue: STR & pellet in crescent. RIC VII 480S. 19 mm., 3.09 g. He was approximately 9 years old when this coin was issued.
Great coin, strong strike with great detail. congrats Clavdivs. CONSTANTIUS II, as Caesar. 324-337 AD. Æ Follis (20mm - 3.5 g). Arles/Constantia mint. Struck 329 AD. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left / VIRTVS CAESS, camp-gate with open doors and four turrets, star above; T-F//PCONST. RIC VII 335 (r4); LRBC 345. Good VF, Rare
This was an ebay job lot purchase which cleaned up well. CONSTANS AE4 Aquileia mint Obv; CONSTAN-S PF AVG. laur & rosette diademed, draped, cuir, bust rt Rev; VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN, Two Victories facing each other with wreaths and palms. Dot in field? AQS in exerg. RIC VIII Aquileia 77
Clavdivs, That was a great score for the money ! Pictured below is an example of the "Fallen Horseman" type from my collection. Pictured below is an example of Constans, his brother, emperor of the West.
What, you don't like the expression on his face?! If you had been a junior Roman Emperor when you were 9 years old, you probably would have looked pretty self-satisfied and arrogant yourself!
Mint set (part 2) Constantinople Nicomedia Cyzicus Antiioch Alexandria Barbarous Those who looked at the table of contents for RIC will note that there was a mint at Milan but that mint only struck gold (no horsemen).
