I just received this coin from GB. It was tit "unlisted Gratian bronze AE3 coin, CONCORDIA AVGGG , Constantinople Mint When I tried to find it in RIC, nothing. The one which is similar is RIC 56a Subtype 3, but th O is on the right site, not on the left and Constantinopolis is looking to the left and not to the right. Does anyone have more information?! 2,79 gr, Ø 17,36-18,57 mm
I think the exergue reads CONS Gamma and not CONS P. The engravers design it that way sometimes, The reverse is worn enough that Constantinopolis is seated facing but not sure whether she's heading Left or right. Have you also noticed that her right leg is bare ? The position of the letter O might well be a variety. Hope I've been of little help.
It is unlisted but it is more interesting than that. It should be rather before 57d, that has the O in field left and the officina is rather B than Gamma. 57d, which is an issue in the name of Theodosius has the same reverse as your coin: Constantinople 57a is an issue for Gratian, but the reverse type has the prow detail that seems to be missing from your coin. Your coin is certainly minted after the elevation of Theodosius in early 379, of the same issue as 57d, and should be added in RIC between 57c and 57d. As Gratian was the main imperial figure, he is expected to appear in all issues until August 383, which your coin confirms for the AE3 issue of 379. Bust type B, rosette diademed. Not recorded in Nummus Bible either.
Thank you so much!!! As 57c is Valentinian and 57d Theodosius, how can it go in between these two? How is it possible to inform RIC?
Consider them as distinct issues: 1. the first one has the privy mark O in the right field and no prow on the reverse and no issue recorded for Theodosius (although judging by the legend AVGGG there were three Augusti to account for and there is no Valens known for this type anywhere in the 11 mints that struck it, so it has to be an early 379 issue although RIC does not note any Theodosius; surely enough tho, there is at least one noted by Nummus Bible (see here) and another uncertain) -- that is RIC 56a-c 2. a possibly following issue with prow at Constantinopolis right foot and equally with no recorded specs for Theodosius, but at this point the privy marks start to vary, and there is at least one instance of O in the left field for Gratian and Valentinian II; this issue is rather rare and was likely short-lived -- that is RIC 57a-c 3. a follow-up large issue with O in the left field with all Theodosius (and an extraordinary Arcadius), to which your Gratian spec confirms a (possibly meager) output in the name of Gratian, although he was the main imperial figure in 379; this issue makes up the bulk of AE3 coinage until at least early 383 and the scarcity to near extinction of specs naming Gratian (and probably none for Valentinian II) might suggest what we know from history, that once safe and confident enough on his position in the East, Theodosius reigned with strong assertion and as a de facto independent emperor -- that is RIC 57d-f and 58 Your Gratian comes at 3. In RIC it should come between 57c and 57d but as the authors did not add this variation, we are left with adding it ourselves to our copies of RIC like good researchers.
