Constantinopolis Question??

How does one know what Emperor a coin has been minted under when
the obverse simply says: "Constantinopolis"
There is the mintmark but what emperor shall I investigate to locate
under who, what, where this coin was minted??

 

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That's a very nice example, @Steven Michael Gardner .

The answer to your question is a little tricky because coins with this obverse type were first minted under Constantine I, but then continued under his sons after his death.

The ones issued under Constantine I are in RIC vii and have a larger module, about 17 mm and 2.0 -2.5 g, but those under his sons are in RIC viii and have a smaller module, about 15 mm and 1.5 g or so.

Yours was issued under Constantine I in AD 334-5 at the Siscia Mint.

Here's my most photogenic example of the type:


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.

 

These are called"city commemoratives". Wilwinds have a page that may help you with your coin. Have fun!

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/i.html

 

There is an excellent page on these coins - explaining the history, etc. by our own member @Valentinian . I highly recommend it.
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html

My favorite quote from the page:

"The fact they were common proves they were important--and therefore historically significant--in a way that rarities are not."

 

Technically, I would think it better not to think of coins of the 4th century as having been issued by one ruler but as 'in the name of' a ruler. The city commomoratives were issued as a part of a series naming the Augusti, Caesares, Augustae and even one 'king' from the various mints. When Constantine was alive he controlled all of these mints but before the end of Licinius and after the death of Constantine I, the various mints fell into regions controlled by one person or another and those regions changed now and then. It is easier to think of a coin of, for example, Constantine I as one with his name and portrait on it rather than one issued in his name by a mint controlled by Licinius or, later, a posthumous issue by one son or another. This approach makes the Commemoratives coins of the state issued by the mints in honor of the two cities. Specialists will want to know who was in control of which mints but it will not always be possible to separate a specific coin into an exact date before or after a death or change in the power boundaries. For example:

I agree with the general point made by Roman Collector but the very first coins of the light standard were made before the death of Constantine. Separating the coins made a day/week before his death from those made a day/week after is, in the case of the Commemoratives, not possible. The safe out would be to call the coins Constantinian period Commemoratives and leave the separations to experts with access to hoard evidence. If a hoard of a thousand coins is found containing lighter standard Commemoratives but no coins of the sons as Augusti (the title they did not get before their father died), it would be evidence that those coins were buried before his death but the mints made no changes to the coin series when Constantine died other than to stop making his coins and to start coins for the three Caesar-sons with their new Augustus legends. Separating the coins of Constantine I from the first issues of Constantine II as Augustus is a bit tricky for those without access to RIC but that is another thread for another day.

I love this idea. I prefer we concentrate on the coins that did service and were important in the economy until we advance to a place where we can specialize and study the rarities with some background. I have never understood beginners who start their 12 Caesars collection with Otho and Vitellius rather than Nero and Vespasian. It is just a different way of approaching the hobby.

 

RI commem AE Follis CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS Victory Prow Shield RIC VII Trier 543 Left



RI Commem Urbs Constantinopolis Victory Commem



RI Commem AE 17 Constantinopolis 227-340 Victory Alexandria RIC VIII 17 Left

 

I had been looking for a while for a nice-looking Constantinopolis commemorative that wasn't terribly expensive* -- and was offered by a U.S. seller, which as far as I'm concerned is a practical necessity in the current situation, if I want to be reasonably sure that the coin will arrive here in New York anytime soon! Because I think it met all those criteria, I recently purchased the example posted by @Steven Michael Gardner (see his photo attached to the first post in this thread) from him on Ebay. I am very much looking forward to receiving it, and to placing it next to my VRBS ROMA coin.





* By which I mean, I believed it should be possible to purchase a decent example of a coin that's so common for well under $100. There are a surprising number of sellers offering examples for more than that sum.

 

I to feel $100 is an excessive sum for a coin such as that, even in the excellent condition it is in...
I am confident Donna is happy with her coin!

 

I've seen some of these listed as "rare" and over $200 in excellent condition - particularly on the fixed price sites.

 

Here are my two examples both bought within the last few months.
I have less than $45 in the both of them including shipping.




First one is 2.9 grams
Second is 2.6 grams

 

Price is generally determined by supply & demand however that is not always
the case with collectables or antiques...
Simply because someone sees a price off $200 does not necessarily indicate the true worth of such item, or that it will sell!

 

That price sounds to me like it would be about in the right neighborhood for one of these. If you got two of them for that total price, that was an especially good deal.

 

The city commemoratives are linked to the two groups of GLORIA EXERCITVS soldiers and standard(s) coins - from time to time you will see a Roma or Constantinopolis with a soldiers and standard reverse. I think I may have one tucked away in the primordial ooze of my Roman collection, but no pictures now.

I like to compare these coins to classic modern series like wheat cents, Indian head cents, or Victoria pennies. They are so abundant that every interested collector could have one (or several) but they are a series that circulated, and as such, top-pop examples will command a hefty premium.

One thing I have noticed is that it is both difficult to find an example minted at the proper city (e.g. Roma minted at Rome, not Siscia or Antioch) and that they command steep premiums.

My two examples

VRBS ROMA minted at Rome (R-wreath-Q)


Constantinopolis minted at Siscia

 

Aquileia is rarer for both...what you may have noticed is that some people prefer an VRBS ROMA from Rome or a Constantinopolis from Constantinople.

 

@Steven Michael Gardner, I just wanted to let you know that the coin arrived in the mail today. I am, in fact, very happy with it. Thank you!

 

Few things give me more enjoyment than making someone happy with my actions!

 

Many sellers employ the business model of listing new stock at much more than they believe it will bring and hoping to find a buyer. If not, discounts may follow. I prefer those who price coins at a fair amount over ther cost and count on making a little off of many coins rather than making a killing on one. That system is easier since selling fewer coins means needing to buy fewer coins to replenish stock. Some sellers expect to give a discount; others are offended if you ask. I recall one seller that greeted me every time I saw him with, "I can do better than those prices." I never understood the appeal of that. Marking coins at 4x what you want and offering a half price sale makes no bargain.

 

@DonnaML -- Did you ever photograph your coin? Let's see it!

Sons of Constantine I.
Roman billion reduced centenionalis, 1.67 g, 15.5 mm.
Heraclea, AD 337-340.
Obv: VRBS ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma, left.
Rev: GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers holding one standard between them; SMHЄ in exergue.
Refs: RIC viii, p. 431, 28; LRBC I, 941; RCV 16529.

Note, however, that it's not a mule in the sense of an accidental mixing of die types. Two mints used this combination officially.

 

all kinds of Constantinopolis coins



Commemorative Series
A.D. 337-348
15mm 1.6gm
CONSTAN-TINOPLIS; Diademed and draped bust of Constantinopolis right.
REV: Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse scepter; P R across fields.
RIC VIII Rome 106

This type was originally included in RIC VIII and dated to A.D. 348; but it seems most likely that these coins were struck in Constantinopolis in A.D. 330 for the dedication of the city.




slipping in a ROMA

Commemorative
A.D. 348
16mm 1.4gm
OBV: ROMA, draped bust of Roma right, wearing visored and crested helmet.
REV: Anepigraphic- Emperor, helmeted and in military dress, standing facing, head left, holding spear in right hand and resting left hand on shield. P-R across fields.
RIC VIII Rome 104

The description above is from RIC VIII, which is outdated. The figure on the reverse is female (which can be seen clearly on some examples)- so either the goddess ROMA (which seems unlikely as ROMA is already on the obverse) or maybe the personification of CONSTANTINOPOLIS or possibly VIRTVS. It also seems most likely that these coins were struck in Constantinopolis in A.D. 330 for the dedication of the city.

this coin is orichalcum (brass) rather than bronze




Constantinopolis Commemorative
A.D. 337- 340
15mm 1.6gm
CONSTANTINOPOLIS; laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.
VICTORIA AVG; Victory stg. on prow, holding wreath and palm.
in exergue R ✶ E
RIC VIII Rome 31


a brockage



Constantinopolis Brockage

15x16mm 2.7gm


Western mint...maybe Arles