There is also this solidus. It has been once set in a jewel, unfortunately. To the left and right of CONS there should be crown symbols. Is this one minted in Constantinople?
My favorite LRB is this double maiorina of Julian. I bought it because it is one of the reverses I wanted. Usually the dies are artistically engraved and the coins are beautiful, perhaps Julian's double maiorina is one of the iconic 4th century coins. This one simply amazed me because the die had no quality control. On the other side of the spectrum, I also bought this one from the same auction. Nothing rare or very interesting, but I liked the overall aspect plus the nice olive green color, also being my only Constans coin.
Lovely coin @Campbell Miller Not sure what you mean by late though? The Empire continued for more than a thousand years after that Here is my late Roman: JOHN VIII PALAEOLOGUS, (1425-1448), silver stavraton (1/2 hyperpyron) Obv: facing bust of Christ Pantokrator Rev: Crowned bust of John VIII facing, in double circular legend 5.36g, flan cracks, scarce, DOC-1611; Se-2563. MBC And more in theme with the OP, here is my late 'pre-final split' of the Roman Empire coin: Valens, 364-378 solidus Obv: D N VALENS P F AVG Laurel-and-rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Valens to right Rev: VICTOR-IA AVGG / TROBS Two emperors, crowned, seated facing on double-throne, holding a globe together; behind, Victory standing facing with wings spread; below, small palm branch. RIC 17e.4 Mint: Treveri 20mm, 4.44g
@GinoLR - definitely minted in Constantinople. However, I couldn't find an exact match on WildWinds, even after looking at Valentinian, Valentinian II, and Valentinian III.
Here is a site on late Roman AE from the period of Valentinian (note my username) and later: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/ It has over a hundred linked pages. If you are interested in particular emperors, it has their AE type sets: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/typesets.html If you are interested in this time period, I recommend buying RIC volume 9, even though it is very old. But, if you just want an outline of the AE issued then, those pages provide it. Here is a rare late Roman AE type: Theodosius, 16 mm. 3.07 grams. 6:00 Consular bust left, holding mappa GLORIA REIPVBLICE around campgate with cross-rho above. TES in exergue RIC IX Thessalonica 59b Dated 385 because of the consular bust.
I like coins with some honest wear. Seems like its harder to find circulated Roman gold than it is the MS quality ones.
I couldn't myself find an exact match, even in RIC online ! It does not look like an imitation. Maybe it is a rare variety?
I strongly suspect that most low end gold found over the centuries was melted and became something more current. Many worn gold coins show signs of being ex. jewelry which probably explains how they escaped the pot.
Yes, Carson, Hill & Kent (1978), Late Roman Bronze Coinage. I have the 1989 Durst reprint. Very handy.[/QUOTE] I am not sure I am posting this message correctly. Anyway, I want to thank dltsrq.
In general, I don't think that solidi changed hands frequently. They functioned as stores of value and means of payment for large scale transaction and for the payment of taxes. The tax office would receive the tax in gold coins, which were then molten down to verify the weight. After that the gold would be minted again into coins. I think often or most of the time, worn Roman gold coins have been used in jewellery at some point.
What a nice Valentinian; wonderful posts, photos, and comments! My graduate training was in 4th-5th c. Latin literature, so moving into the late empire in the 1970s seemed a natural progression from my earlier Roman and Greek. Trying to narrow down my favorite late Roman coins is like trying to pick a favorite among my dogs. Can’t be done… So here are a few: Constantine I. Constantinople, 327. Ae, 2.77 gr. 19 mm. 4h. RIC 19. Constantine II. Siscia, 337-40. Heavy Miliarense, 4.47 gr. 25 mm 6h. RIC 47 Constantius II. Constantinople, 351-5. Siliqua, 3.46 gr. 22 mm. 12h. RIC 102. Constantius II. Antioch, 337-47. Solidus, 4.46 gr. 22 mm. 5h. RIC 7. Ex Edward Gans 5 Aug. 1956. Julian II. Trier, 360-3. Siliqua, 2.25 gr. 17 mm 12h. RIC 365. Julian II. Lyons, 360-3. Siliqua, 2.08 gr. 17 mm. 6h. RIC 212 A few others… Julian II. Arles, 360-3. Siliqua, 2.05 gr. 17 mm. 7h. RIC 309. Ex 1887 East Harptree, Somerset Hoard. Gratian. Trier, 378-83. Solidus, 4.50gr. 21 mm. 6h. RIC 49b. G. de Falco, 16 Nov. 1958. Theodosius II. Ravenna, 407. Solidus, 4.38 gr. 21 mm. 1h. RIC 1311 Valentinian III. Ravenna, 430-40. Solidus, 4.38 gr. 22 mm. 12h. RIC 2018. Marcian, Constantinople, 450-7. Siliqua, 1.41 gr. 18 mm. 12h. RIC 528. Leu 15, 28 Feb. 2021, lot 2222. Basiliscus and Marcus, Constantinople, 475-6. Semissis, 2.22 gr. 18 mm. 4h. RIC 1028 As @Aussie Collector pointed out, the empire lasted another thousand years after the time of the first Constantine. So here are my 2 Constantine XI 1/8 stavrata…. And for any autograph hunters out there, here's one you might enjoy, although I much doubt you'll find a copy to acquire: the signature of Constantine XI Palaeologos, 1448-1453, the last emperor of the Romans. This is from a contemporary chrysobull, or imperial decree. The wording follows very closely the inscriptions found on his stavrata and that of his immediate predecessors. + Κωνσταντίνος εν Χριστώ τω Θεώ πιστός βασιλεύς και αυτοκράτωρ των Ρωμαίων ο Παλαιολόγος :+ Constantine, in Christ, God, faithful emperor and autocrat of the Romans, the Palaeologos. Also, photos of my 2 eighth stavrata of Constantine XI. They were published in Simon’s article in Revue Numismatique v. 33 (1991) pp. 134-142. They are Bendall 110 and Bendall 129 respectively. Constantine XI. Constantinople. 1449/53. Eighth Stavraton. 0.63 gr. 12.7 mm. hr. 11. Sear -; DO 1789. Bendall, “The coinage of Constantine XI” (Revue Numismatique 1991, pp. 134-142), #110 (this coin). Constantine XI. Constantinople. 1449/53. Eighth Stavraton. 0.63 gr. 13 mm. hr. 12. Sear -; DO 1789. Bendall, op. cit.#129 (this coin).
Nicest thing about it, Warren, is that's how I met Susan. It was in a Greek class, reading the Medea!