Wish it was in a little better condition, but might not get another chance on one for a while. Post up your not so common Constantine coins ! Constantine I IMP CONSTA-NTINVS AVG, laureate, draped bust left, globe and sceptre in left hand, mappa in right hand IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and leaning on eagle-tipped sceptre Mintmark: SMN Left field palm branch Right: Gamma RIC VII Nicomedia 23 Rated R4 317-320 AD, Follis
What feature makes this one different from the common types? My contribution is a Constantine I from the Rome mint epwc (eros=amor spelled backwards is Roma) mintamrk series.
Oops I just copied and pasted the info from wild winds and did not pay attention to the the B in the field. So not sure if it is as scarce as the one with the Gamma.
Here's a four turreted campgate from Rome with an unlisted workshop Constantine I A.D. 318- 319 19x20mm 3.3g CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate helmeted and cuirassed bust right. VIRTVS AVGG; camp gate with four turrets, across fields P-R In ex. RP RIC VII Rome 185 for anyone that is interested, or bored, I have a page with most of the bronze reverse types for Constantine I http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/types/
Great job, @bcuda ! I don’t really focus here. I believe this us common. However, I always felt the bust in Helmet always looked funny. Like a little boy dressing up like a soldier. RI Constantine I AVG Follis Votive XX seated captives 2.69g 18mm RIC VII 191 London
Constantine I 327 to 328 AD Mint: Constantinople AE Follis Obvs: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, Rosette-diadem head right. Revs: LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Victory on galley; wreath in both hands. B to left. CONS 19x20mm, 3.0g Ref: RIC VII 25 Constantine I Rome mint 313 AD AE 1/4 Follis Obvs: IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Bare head facing right. Revs: SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS, Owl standing left on altar, shield, spear and helmet around. RT 14mm, 1.20g RIC HC V 178 Constantine I Thessalonica mint 319 AD AE Follis Obvs: CONSTANTINVS AVG, Bust left cuir. spear across right shoulder. Revs: VICTORIA AVGG NN, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm branch. TSΔ 18mm, 2.6g RIC VII 60 Constantine I Rome mint 312/313 AD AE Half Follis Obvs: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Revs: PACI PERPET, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and signum. XII to left, RS in ex. 17mm, 2.05g RIC VI 356
Yes, the Jupiter reverse is very common for both Constantine and Licinius. The left-facing consular portrait, while not rare, certainly makes it less common, along with the palm branch in front of Jupiter on the reverse. The "Rated R4" is more or less meaningless, though, since it was based on the number of coins found in famous collections, and very few people bother to collect by officina.
A couple more interesting Ae types: The closed-door VIRTVS AVGG campgate from Rome: An Ae half nummus with GLORIA PERPET reverse (two Victories advancing right with a wreath and branch, standard between) from Rome:
I really like that GLORIA PERPET, Brian. That's a hard one to find. Here's one exclusive to Thessalonica. The left-facing bust makes it even more unusual: Thessalonica mint, A.D. 319 RIC 60, var. Obv: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG Rev: VICTORI-A AVGG NN - Victory advancing left with wreath and palm branch TS[dot]Γ[dot] in exergue 18 mm, 3.0 g. Note: According to RIC, this coin should have a dot before the mint mark. Other specimens without the dot are known. Note: The obverse has been described as left-facing, holding spear on right shoulder, with sword handle in front from sword held in left hand. RIC does not acknowledge the sword handle.
@Victor_Clark that is a very nice camp gate. I don’t know if I’ve even seen a four turreted camp gate before. Your list is fun to read and helpful, thanks for sharing. @David@PCC that is a very nice selection of scarce or better reverse types. I particularly like the LIBERTAS PVBLICA. @Brian Bucklan That is a really attractive VIRTVS AVGG. @gsimonel I think the rating system is obviously limited but it is what we have. I think it is okay as a general indicator of which issues stand out amongst the mass production of most issues. I collect by officina but I know I’m in the minority.
These are my only other Constantine coins with Him facing left. Constantine I Struck: 319 AD Obv: CONSTANT-INVS- AVG high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm Rev: VICT dot LAETAE PRINC PERP two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar (type 6f-The letter S). dot delta SIS dot RIC VII Siscia 84, r3 Rarity 2.84 grams Constantine I. 307/310-337 AD. Æ Follis Obv: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, two eight pointed stars and row of three dots on a high crested helmet and cuirassed bust left, holding shield and spear. Rev: VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP, two Victories standing facing one another, holding vota shield altar below with I, exurge A SIS(star). RIC VII 51 (19mm, 2.93 grams Siscia mint, 1st officina. Struck AD 318. R5, Rarity: 10
I recently got this Constantine minted under Licinius: 21-18 mm. 3.84 grams. RIC VII Cyzicus 14 "321-324." In this late time period the radiate crown in unusual and the reverse, with "12 1/2" on it in Roman numerals is somewhat enigmatic. This is the group in RIC we have discussed in the context of Martinian. In 324 when Licinius was losing the second Civil War with Constantine, shortly after July 3 he appointed Martinian as co-Augustus to help. The final battle of that war was September 18, 324, so Martinian didn't last long. The only mint for his coins was Cyzicus. His coins are so very rare very few collectors will ever have one, so some are happy to find a coin from the same mint and group in RIC. Presumably, this coin was issued earlier in that group while Constantine was still at peace with Licinius. Earlier in Roman coinage the radiate crown is usually interpreted as denoting a double denomination. For example, the antoninianus is a double denarius. But, what might this be double of? That field mark X over IIΓ (that is not really a gamma, rather a symbol for 1/2) seems to say "12 1/2". That is one quarter of 50 and one eighth of 100, fractions that are possible, if we knew that in 321 there was a coin worth 100, or 50. Was the regular non-radiate piece half of that radiate? I have been reading about the nominal values of coins in and after the tetrarchies. There are lots of scholarly opinions, but no consensus. That's part of the fun of ancient numismatics. There is lots to think about and sometimes the answers to obvious questions are not (yet) known.
Constantine I A.D. 312- 313 22x23mm 4.1g CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right. SECVRITAS AVGG; Securitas standing facing, head left, legs crossed, right hand on head, left arm leaning on column; ✶ in left field. in exergue PLN RIC VI London 277 Constantine I A.D. 320 18x19mm 2.3gm CONSTANTINVS AVG; helmeted and cuirassed bust left, spear across r. shoulder and shield on l. arm. CONSTANTINI AVG in three lines around VO/TIS/XX In ex. •P•L• RIC VII Lyons – Not in RIC Constantine I A.D. 326- 327 19mm 2.5gm CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate head right. DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG; campgate with two turrets, star between them. In ex. P branch T RIC VII Ticinum 205 silvered and XF
Here are Mars facing and Sol facing coins from Ticinum. The facing varieties are pretty rare. I purchased the Mars example from Victor. The Sol was an eBay find.
Silvered, with the doors blown off, and two BBQ grills : Roman Empire Constantine I, AD 306-337. Æ Follis, 19mm, 3.2g, 12h; Siscia, AD 326-7. Obv.: CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate head right. Rev.: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG; Camp gate with two turrets, no door and star above; •ΓSIS• in exergue. Reference: RIC 200. From the Collection of an Anonymous CT Member. Ex: @John Anthony