I couldn't resist the portrait of Constantinopolis on this one from Siscia. Constantine I, AD 307-337. Roman billon centenionalis, 2.22 g, 17.8 mm, 6 h. Siscia, AD 334-335. Obv: CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS, bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, left, holding reversed spear in right hand. Rev: Victory, winged, draped, standing left on prow, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand; •BSIS• in exergue. Refs: RIC vii, p. 456, 241; Cohen 21; LRBC I 751; RVC 16469.
Very Roman looking Constantinopolis! Here's the two I'm proud of. Constantinople Commemorative AE Half-Follis Old Picture: New Picture: 330 - 331 A.D., Lugdunum Mint, 1st Officina 2.87g, 16.0mm, 12H Obverse: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, left, holding reversed spear in right hand Reverse: -, Victory, winged, draped, standing left on prow, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand Exergue: -/-//•PLG Provenance: Ex. YOC (Pete) Reference: RIC VII Lugdunum 246 This one from Thessaloniki has a chubbier portrait of Constantinopolis. Must have been snacking a bit too much on those sweet delicacies. Constantinople Commemorative AE Half-Follis 330 - 333 A.D., Thessaloniki Mint, 4th Officina 2.60g, 19.0mm, 12H Obverse: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, left, holding reversed spear in right hand Reverse: -, Victory, winged, draped, standing left on prow, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand Exergue: -/-//SMTSΔ Provenance: Ex. Victor's Imperial Coins 2019 Reference: RIC VII Thessalonica 188246
Beautiful coin, @Roman Collector ! I started down this rabbit-hole, but then reconsidered... I showed these before in one of your threads... 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
@Roman Collector, I have only one Constantinopolis, but it's also from the Siscia Mint, 2nd Officina: Constantine I, Billon reduced Centenionalis, Siscia Mint 334-335 AD. Obv. Bust of Constantinopolis left, wearing laureate helmet and imperial robes, & holding scepter over left shoulder, CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS / Rev. Winged Victory standing left, right foot set on ship’s prow, holding transverse scepter in right hand and resting left hand on shield; • BSIS • [Siscia, Second officina] in exergue. RIC VII 241 (p. 456), Sear RCV IV 16469. 18 mm., 2.5 g. It's similar to yours, but not the same dies. Question: my characterization of this coin as a reduced centenionalis comes from Sear. You call it just a centenionalis. Others posting this type in this thread call it a follis or half-follis. I understand that we don't really know what these coins were called at the time they were issued and circulated, but am I correct that there is no generally-accepted term by which numismatists refer to it now? Even in this thread, the names for it are all over the place.
You also see nummus used. Whichever term used, these are not half anythings or reduced anythings. These commemoratives were struck at the same standard as other coins at the time like GLORIA EXERCITVS-- A.D. 330- 335 @ 132 per pound and 336- 337 @ 196/ pound From 313 to 337 there were four reductions, so if you wanted to call any of these reduced anythings you would need to establish the point at which you think they are not reduced (maybe tetrarchy?) and superscipt them according to which reduction
Thank you. David Sear is the only person I've seen who uses the "reduced" terminology on a regular basis, not only for the Centenionalis but for other denominations including the so-called "reduced Follis" -- even though I gather that many question whether "follis" was an actual denomination or referred to something else