FEL TEMP Friday! A Fallen Horseman thread.

I can never get enough Fallen Horseman threads, and although I have something ready for Faustina Friday as well, should the occasion arise, how about also celebrating the day with some FTRs and FHs?

I tried to include three with some variations in emperor and bust type, field marks, mints, and reverse type.

My most recent FH purchase is this Constantius II with a decorated shield. It's my first where the decoration is quite clear (three dots above/below the hub). The photo isn't ideal, but the soldier's armor/helmet also appear a bit more heavily decorated than most (but perhaps not out of the norm). I also always appreciate when the horseman's headwear or hairstyle is fully visible. I'm assuming that is a Sassanid light cavalry in a Phrygian cap or similar:


Roman Imperial. Constantius II (Augustus, 337-361) AE Maiorina (5.20g, 25mm, 12h). Cyzicus, 351 – 355.
Obverse: D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: FEL TEMP REPARATIO. Γ in left field. •SMKA in exergue. Soldier, bearing shield decorated with three pellets above and below central hub, spearing fallen horseman. Type FH3.
Reference: RIC VIII 96.
Pedigree: Ex-InAsta spa Auction 91, 427 (San Marino, 15 Dec 2020)

The next two are from Constans, whose FH issues are, taken as a whole, less common than those of Constantius II or Gallus, though Thessalonica and Siscia are his more common mints. The Thessalonica has the distinctive emperor holding globe bust, while the Siscia is interesting for all the field marks and dots.


Roman Imperial Constans (337-350) AE Maiorina (5.45, 25mm, 6h). Thessalonica Mint, 348 – 350.
Obverse: D N CONSTANS P F AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; holding globe.
Reverse: FEL TEMP REPARATIO / TSΓ* in exergue. Soldier spearing fallen horseman. Type FH1.
Reference: RIC 116.
Pedigree: Ex-Gitbud & Naumann Auction 15, 771 (Vienna, 6 April 2014)


Roman Imperial Constans (337-350) AE Maiorina (5.80g, 25mm, 5h). Siscia Mint, 348 – 350.
Obverse: D N CONSTANS P F AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; A behind.
Reverse: FEL TEMP REPARATIO / A in left field / * in right field / •ASIS• in exergue. Soldier spearing fallen horseman. FH2.
Reference: RIC VIII 258; LRBC 1158.
Pedigree: eBay purchase circa 2013.

I'd better restrain myself & save some for future Fridays!
What is anyone else in the mood to share?

 

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FHs are amazing. The quality, size, and artistry for the price is often unparalleled.

My #1 coin of 2020 is this superb Gallus. The soldier's head is sort of gone, but I'll take a Michelin-man lobster-clawed dying barbarian anyday. The detail on the barbarian is really quite amazing. I also like the sheath on the solderis' side, if that's what it even is.
Gallus also looks like the guy you old timers probably saw on college campuses back in the 70s.



Constantius II are plenty cheap; however I have yet to get a really nice one. This is probably my best example. Rather uninspired overall, with nothing too impressive. I like the exagerrated arrow-point on the soldier's spear, though.


This one is either a really poorly made official coin, or a rather well made imitation. It is an AE2 coin squished on an AE3 flan. It is missing almost all of the legends but the style tends to point towards C-II.
If this was full size, it would have looked rather lovely with great details and dynamism on the soldier and possibly the barbarian.

This coin also was heavily encrusted, almost to the point of invisibility before I tossed it into some magic juice and restored the "felicitas temporum"


Last one for today is an actual AE3 FH. Nothing special here, but the soldier does have a bit of something in the middle of the shield (what the heck is that called again) that isn't present on the other shields above.

 

@Curtis , I just realized that each of your examples has the barbarian dying in a different pose:

leaning back on horse
slumped over horse
falling off horse

My guys all appear to be leaning back.

I wonder if there is any significance, or any sort of trend amongst mints on the pose of the dead guy. My three are from different mints: Nicomedia, Heraclea, Sirmium but all have the same pose.

Your guys are from different mints than mine; your leaner is Cyzicus.

 

@Curtis Good topic, needed a reason to sort my FTR FH small collection. Got a few from the uncleaned lots and bought a few. For the latter, I do not mind the wear, just need to be fully identifiable.

Constantius II; RE-PARATIO; 4.50 gr, CONSB*, gamma in left field



Constantius II; R-EPARATIO; 6.20 gr; CONSS; gamma in left field; dot in centre

 

I have one fallen horseman. The horse has only two legs, so you can't really blame him for falling off.


Cyzicus Γ. 351-354 AD. 23mm. 6,82 gr.


I fell for the portrait and the patina. And the cut edge.

I can never get over the absurdity of the reverse: a killing scene with 'good days are here again' written around it. Fitting motto for a psycho-killer with a sense of irony.

 

Nice idea for a thread. I like the subtle differences in the horseman's positition, attire and hairstyles. @dougsmit has a wonderful website on this topic.


Constantius II, Roman Empire, AE3, 351–355 AD, Sirmium mint. Obv: D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; bust of Constantius II, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Helmeted soldier to l., shield on l.arm, spearing falling horseman; shield on ground at r. Horseman is bareheaded, turns to face soldier, and extends l. arm; in exergue, ?SIRM. 18.5mm, 2.95g. RIC VIII Sirmium 48. Ex D. Pichler collection.


Constantius Gallus, Roman Empire, AE2, 351–355 AD, Constantinople mint. Obv: DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAE; bust of Constantius Gallus, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed, r. Ref: FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Roman soldier l. spearing fallen horseman. Horseman wearing Phrygian cap, slumping forward and clutching horse's neck; in fields, Γ•; in exergue, CONSB. 24mm, 4.20g. Ref: RIC VIII Constantinople 107. Ex C. Kistenich.


Constantius Gallus, Roman Empire, AE3, 351–355 AD, Siscia mint. Obv: DN CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C; bust of Constantius Gallus, bare-headed and draped, r. Ref: FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Roman soldier l. spearing fallen horseman. Horseman wears Phrygian cap, turns to face soldier, and extends l. arm; in exergue, BSIS. 18.5 mm, 2.38g. Ref: RIC VIII Siscia 351. Ex Artemide, e-auction 12, lot 598.

 

@Curtis I think that your new coin is SMKA rather than SMKΓ. I will concur with the attribution to RIC VIII Cyzicus 92 since you have the coin in hand. Could there be the remnant of a dot in the exe before the mintmark? This would change it to RIC 96.

I have a couple from the same issue (RIC 92) and thought that thy were worthy of some comparison.

The first being SMKB. The shield is quite plain with a center boss and ring of dots around the edge. My horseman is bare headed and bearded whereas your is wearing a Pannonian cap and appears beardless.



My second from the same issue is scrappier... and is SMKE

Unusual shield decoration. Central boss surrounded by four small dots forming a square, additional dots at either end of the shield.

Again my horseman is bare headed and bearded.



Here are my RIC 96s

Dot SMKA - Hat and beardless..... decorated shield with pellets either side of the central boss....



Dot SMKB, Hat and beardless, plain shield.

 

Wonderful examples, @maridvnvm & very helpful comparison. The dies for the first of your 92s are so lovely and elegant, I love the artistic style.

Thanks - you're quite right, my first one is actually a 96, Dot SMKA. The comparison to your Dot SMKA is remarkably similar. They're not the same reverse die (unless partially re-engraved or something), but they are so similar I would wager they were done by the same hand. They've got the same shield decoration, I think, and the Roman soldier's armor & helmet & face are almost identical.

 

Interesting thread. I don't have many FH coins

Constantius II - Alexandria



Constantius II - Antioch



Constantius Gallus - Siscia


Q

 

For no particular reason, a Gallus with a nice desert patina:

Constantius Gallus
Caesar, A.D. 351-354
(Bronze) AE2
Constantinople mint, first series
Obv: D N FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES
Rev: FEL TEMP R-EPARATIO - Soldier spearing fallen enemy horseman
CONSA in exergue; Γ• in left field
RIC 107
22mm, 4.7g

And for variety, here is Magnentius' take on the FH theme, with the horseman still on his horse spearing the soldier. Since the FHs were still being minted in the East, do you think this was a deliberate challenge?

Magnentius
Augustus, A.D. 350-353
(Bronze) AE2
Rome mint, A.D. 350-352
Obv: D N MAGNENT-IVS P F AVG
Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM - Emperor, advancing right, on horseback, trampling on shield and spearing barbarian soldier
RQ in exergue
RIC 197
23mm, 4.7g.

 

This is my only FH coin, but after looking through these posts, I think I’m going to have to get some more of these.


Constantius Gallus, Caesar, AE Centenionalis (23mm, 6.49 g). Alexandria mint, 3rd off. 351-355 AD, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust r. / Soldier standing l., holding round shield and spearing fallen horseman to lower left;Γ/–//ALEΓ. RIC VIII 74.
Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection of Late Roman Bronzes.

 

There are several things that can make a FH special in my opinion. I am particularly fond of the mints that you don't see every day.
Amiens Constantius II


Amiens Constantius Gallus


Trier Constantius II


Trier Constantius Gallus


Rome is not rare but retained silver and the starburst shield make this one special to me.


Some coins like this Aquileia seem to be grade A even in low grade.


Some Aquileia mint Gallus proudly display their weight (72 to the pound).


The FH for Magnentius is very rare and there are none for Decentius unless you count the barbarous coin that reads DN DECEN TIUS AVGV or is it DN MAGEN TIVS AVGV??? The letters suggest Magnentius but counting the bumps lacks one for the first N. Barbarous coins can be fun and confusing.


This Siscia(?) Gallus was overstruck on a Constantius II from Aquileia with the two captives reverse.

 

Constantius Gallus, (351 - 354 A.D.)
Æ2
O: DN CONSTANT-IVS NOB CAES, Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right.
R: FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman, who is beared, bare headed, falling forward, clutching his horse.Γ in field left. ANS in exergue.
Antioch Mint
4.78g
23mm
RIC VIII Antioch 137

Michelin Man


Constantius II (337 - 361 A.D.)
Æ3
O: D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: FEL TEMP REPARATIO (happy times restored), soldier rushing left spearing fallen horseman, soldier in military garb with helmet and shield on left arm, soldiers right foot on shield on the ground, horseman laying across his stumbled mount, bare-headed, without beard, raising left hand in helpless defense.
Nocomedia Mint
2.01g
16.9mm
RIC Nocomedia 96 variant

 

FYI, Shawn Caza has a generous and detailed examination of the falling/fallen horseman series with a proposed outline of its chronology in KOINON II.

 

Very nice, @Curtis . I really do not focus in this area, but I enjoy reading the posts about the variety of issues.

Interesting observation, @hotwheelsearl . Over the years, I subliminally noticed different positions of being speared, but did not fully categorize them as you did.

Here are mine.

CONSTANTIUS GALLUS


RI Constantius Gallus Caesar 351-354 AE21 FEL TEMP REPARATIO soldier-spearing-fallen-horseman RIC 348 Siscia


JULIAN II


RI Julian II 360-363 CE Fallen Horseman AE3

 

Awesome! I am embarrassed to say, but I don't own a single fallen horseman type...Any tips on which emperors issued the nicest?

 

Yes, it's a great article. You can find it on his academia page as well:

Caza, Shawn. 2019. "Back in the Saddle Again: A Re-Examination of the FEL TEMP REPARATIO Falling Horseman Type." KOINON The International Journal of Classical Numismatic Studies Vol II: 113-146. Oxford, UK: Archaeopress Publishing.
Online via academia

I also recommend Nick Vanderwegh's excellent article (as one will see upon reading both of those, there are some details about which reasonable scholars reach different conclusions):

Vaneerdewegh, Nick. 2017. “Fel Temp Reparatio: image, audience and meaning in the mid-4th century.” Revue Belge de Numismatique et de Sigillographie 163: 143-166.
Online via Academia

And of course Failmezger:

Failmezger, Victor. 1992 (October). “FEL TEMP REPARATIO emphasized Rome’s protection of the frontier against barbarians.” The Celator 6 (10): 14-20.
Online from VCoins Community

Failmezger, Victor. 2002. Roman Bronze Coins from Paganism to Christianity 294-364 AD. Washington, DC: Ross.

The classics include:

Kent, J. P. C. 1967. “FEL. TEMP. REPARATIO.” Numismatic Chronicle 7: 83-90.
Online via JSTOR

Mattingly, Harold. 1933. “FEL.TEMP.REPARATIO.” The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society 13 (51): 182-202.
Online via JSTOR

For the JSTOR examples, please beware that you don't actually need a university library account anymore to access them. Anyone can sign up for a free account & get 100 articles/month (but many are "open-access" and don't even require a free account or count against your 100). I use my gmail.

There are, of course, many other good articles and books on the topic, these are the ones that came to mind and that I had in my bibliography available for cut-and-paste.

 

The emperors are mostly similar, except in regards their bust type and size of the coins. Julian II was late to the game, so all of his examples are small, AE3 types (but can still be nice).

As @dougsmit indicated above, the mints are what make the most difference. Each one had its own look.

For a "starter fallen horseman", personally, I would recommend a nice but common large AE2 (~25mm, 5.0g+) Constantius II (edited: typo!) from Antioch or Constantinople. They have good artistry (in the "realism" sense) and can be very attractive for an affordable price (less so than in decades past).

Here are some of my Antioch examples, two from Constantius II, one from C Gallus. The first is on the medium-high end of the market (still not outrageously expensive), but a coin like the second one (my writeup on it here) is quite affordable even to someone only casually interested:




Constantius Gallus can be pricier in the high end, the main difference for the same mints tends to be that he's always bare-headed. But with patience and research you can find an affordable one like this (this one even came with an interesting pedigree to Frank Taylor, 1982, Brisbane):


I personally fancy the Constans issues, especially holding the globe from Thessalonica (as above); you can also find Constantius II holding a globe. If Magnentius is a holy grail, Decentius is the ark. Knowing your tastes, @The Trachy Enjoyer, you might like one of the fascinating barbarous imitations out there.

Be careful, though. Once you start, there's no stopping!