Hat tip to @Valentinian for this interesting bit of info about the following coins: The CONSTANTINOPOLIS type comes spelled without the terminal "S" at four mints (Constantinople, Cyzicus, Heraclea, Nicomedia) located around the Propontus (Sea of Marmora, near Constantinople). According to John Kent (author of RIC, vol. VIII) this "reflects the fall of the terminal -s in the spoken language and provides an interesting hint as to how instructions reached the engravers." @Valentinian writes, "I presume he means that he thinks those four mints received instructions from the same source, there was a oral stage in the transmission, and it was a regionally accepted pronunciation. The missing 'S' sound reminds me of modern French pronunciation." Here's a little mini-set I have acquired, one from each of these four mints: Heraclea, RIC vii p. 559, 135. Constantinople, RIC vii p. 582, 79. Nicomedia, RIC vii p. 634, 196. Cyzicus, RIC vii p. 656, 93. Let's see your CONSTANTINOPOLI(S) commemoratives! All mints and all reverse types encouraged!
I just assumed it was the dative singular form since so many reverse legends are in the dative. I thought the -i ending meant that the coin was struck in honor of or dedicated to Constantinople. But obverse legends are usually in the nominative. So Valentinian’s explanation gives me something to think about.
Cool! I think I'll try to snag a nice one of those sometime. My Constantinople commem from Trier is unremarkable but I'm fond of it since it was one of the first coins in my collection: Here's another coin whose spelling reflects local pronunciation: Postumus, antoninianus issued by Aureolus, Milan mint c. 267-8. The legend should read "EQVIT" rather than "AEQVIT" but in Milan and Gaul the pronunciation was shifting (according to M. Weder, in Der «Bachofensche Münzschatz», 1990, pp. 61-62,)
The Constantinian city commemoratives are nice little coins. I like them. My first one is from the Arles mint and rather scarce. It also has a very pleasing chocolate brown patina that I find very hard to photograph. The second coin is simply beautiful and of the variety without the terminal S. City Commemorative under Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE 3, 332–333 AD, Arles mint. Obv: CONSTANTINOPOLIS; bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, l. holding spear in r. hand. Rev: Victory, winged, draped, standing l. on prow, holding long sceptre in r. hand and resting l. hand on shield; triple branch r.; in exergue, SCONST. 18.5mm, 1.89g. Ref: RIC VII Arelate 369. Ex @Valentinian. City Commemorative under Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE 3, 331–334 AD, Cyzicus mint. Obv: CONSTANTINOPOLI; bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, l. holding spear in r. hand. Rev: Victory, winged, draped, standing l. on prow, holding long sceptre in r. hand and resting l. hand on shield; in exergue, SMKE. 18mm, 2.49. Ref: RIC VII Cyzicus 92. Ex Forvm Ancient Coins; ex @TheRed; ex AMCC 2, lot 256 (their picture).
@Orielensis - FYI I can give you some more information on the Cyzicus example. It is ex-my collection too and I had it in 2010 before it went to FAC. Here is my image of the same coin.
I collected / hoarded this type for a while but then lost my love for it. Here are some to give you an idea..... Alexandria Arles Lugdunum Rome Trier
Thanks for the information! That's good to know. It certainly seems a though this coin made quite a tour in the CT community in the last years...
Here is one I have with the terminal "I" from Nicomedia. The reverse isn't what you would call high grade, but I like how the patina and earthen encrustations make it look like Victory and her ship are emerging from the mist. City Commemorative. Minted circa 330-335 CE. AE3. 18mm. Nicomedia mint, first officina. Obverse: CONSTANTINOPOLI, helmeted, laureate bust of Constantinople left, holding a reversed spear. Reverse: Victory, wings spread, standing left on prow of a ship, holding scepter and resting left hand on shield. SMNA in exergue. RIC VII Nicomedia 196; Sear 16475.
Wow, nice set idea! And, I had no idea! Here are some of my Constantinopolis 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 Mint RIC VIII 17 Left
Haven't seen one posted with the Chi-Rho yet. Still need to get its Urbs Roma Chi-Rho match from Arles.
Sometimes rarity is what adds interest to a coin. However, rarity is not necessary for a coin to be interesting. The CONSTANTINOPOLIS type is very common but it intrinsically interesting because refers to one of the most influential events is history--the founding of Constantinople. For the story, see my site: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html Here is one with a nice green patina: 18 mm. Struck 330-333 at Thessalonica. RIC Thessalonica 188. Bought from Barnard and Moore at the Cumberland Coin Fair, March 2, 1996.
I have never looked at that page on your site before, Warren. It is extremely impressive and informative!
Along with the post are great looking coins. I learned a lot from today's lesson thank you all. Be safe.
