Hi folks! An acquaintance of mine who deals in Canadian coins asked me to try to help him identify this ancient Roman coin. I have been learning about ancient Greek coins, and still know extremely little about Roman ones. The label on the holder, as he bought it, says "Constantine," but I think this is Constantius II--though I don't know. The reverse is heavily corroded, but features two soldiers facing each other, with "CONSS" in the exergue. The coin is approximately 16mm in diameter.
I see the (obverse) legend as: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; which would confirm your suspicion of the coin representing Constantius II(as Caesar). The reverse is likely GLORIA EXERCITVS -- Essentially honoring the army. CONS would indicate that it was minted in Constantinople.
Personally, I would break it out of that holder and check the green. Looks like at least some of it is hard green malachite which is safe. But is there powdery stuff too? If so that is bronze disease and I find these stapled holders to be horrible for BD! I agree completely with Herodotus re the attribution. As a two standard GE it was struck 330-335. SC
Hi Herodotus! Thank you very much for your reply. I'm glad to know I'm on track with Constantius II, and I appreciate your other information, too. I'll pass it on to my friendly acquaintance.
Thank you very much, otlichnik! I appreciate your confirming Herodotus's and my reading as this being a coin of Constantius II. Also, Thanks for the tip regarding malachite and the caution about bronze disease. I do have a question for you, though: what did you mean by "two standard GE"?
GE = GLORIA EXERCITVS. There are two issues, an earlier issue with larger, heavier flans and two soldiers each holding one military standard, for a total of two standards, and a later issue with smaller, lighter flans where the two soldiers hold only one standard between the two of them. Not only are the later issues smaller in diameter, but they are thinner. Therefore, they weigh about half of the earlier (hence half the number of standards held by the soldiers?) issues. Constantius II, Caesar AD 324-337. Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 2.60 g, 17.4 mm, 1 h. Cyzicus, AD 331-334. Obv: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, bust of Constantius II, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. Rev: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS: Two soldiers, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, standing facing each other, each holding spear in outer hand and resting inner hand on shield; between them, two standards; in exergue, SMKΔ. Refs: RIC vii, p. 655, 84; Cohen 104; Sear 17696. Constantius II, Augustus AD 337-361. Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 1.38 g, 14.2 mm, 12 h. Cyzicus, AD 337-340. Obv: D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, head of Constantius II, laureate, right. Rev: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS: Two soldiers, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, facing front, heads toward each other, each holding inverted spear in outer hand and resting inner hand on shield; between them, one standard; in exergue, SMK[...]. Refs: RIC viii, pp. 490-91, #16, 21, 27 or 32; Cohen 102 var.; RCV 17998-18001.
Man that constantine II guy sure minted a lot of bronzes. I bought two un-cleaned roman coins bundles ( over 100 coins altogether) and most of them are him. Either the one with the soldier stabbing the other soldier or with the soliders standing with a standard. It also seems like they are pervasive online.
Actually, Constantine II was the brother of Constantius II, so they were separate people. Both were sons of Constantine the Great, along with their other brother, Constans. They also had a sister. Can you guess her name? That's right, Constantia! Apparently they had two other siblings, too: Crispus and Helena. I guess some things in life aren't so constant after all.
