Gratian CONCORDIA AVGGG AE-3 - Rarer Type Aquileia mint Gratian CONCORDIA AVGGG AE-3 - Rarer Type An attractive reverse design struck during the reign of Gratian (367-383 AD). The unusual AVGGG in the reverse design refers to the reigns of Gratian, Valentinian II and Theodosius I. This coin was struck at the Aquileia mint and is slightly different from those struck at the eastern mints. It is also much heavier than those coins. This is a sharp example, with lots of details on Gratian's hair and an attractive brown patina. It is listed as "Rare" in RIC. (Diameter: 19 mm. Weight: 3.24 grams) OB: Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right - D N GRATIANVS P F AVG REV: Concordia, turreted, seated facing, head right, on throne, holding reversed spear in right hand, left hand on knee - CONCORDIA AVGGG Struck between 378-383 AD at the Aquileia mint, this coin has the mint mark SMAQP and is attributed as RIC, Vol. IX, #33.a. Gratian CONCORDIA AVGGG AE-3 Constantinopolis Mint Gratian CONCORDIA AVGGG AE-3 An attractive reverse design struck during the reign of Gratian (367-383 AD). The unusual AVGGG in the reverse design refers to the reigns of Gratian, Valentinian II and Theodosius I. This coin has nice details on Concordia and Gratian's bust as well. Nice light brown patina. There is a weakly-struck spot on Concordia's right leg. (Diameter: 18 mm. Weight: 1.91 grams) OB: Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right - D N GRATIANVS P F AVG REV: Concordia, seated facing, head left, right leg bare, holding globe and reversed spear - CONCORDIA AVGGG O in right reverse field Struck between 378-383 AD at the Constantinopolis mint, this coin has the mint mark CONS Gamma and is attributed as RIC, Vol. IX, #56.a. I hope this info is accurate, corrections welcome and will be addressed
Those are nice coins, with smooth surfaces, good centering, and clear legends and devices. I like the polished leather patina, too. I don't have a lot of Gratian coins. Here's a few big ones and a little one. Gratian, AD 367-383. Roman Æ maiorina, 5.90 g, 21.4 mm, 11 h. Constantinople, AD 383. Obv: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust, right, holding spear and shield. Rev: GLORIA RO-MANORVM, Emperor standing facing, head right, on ship, raising right hand. Victory seated at helm. No wreath in field; in exergue, CONΓ. Refs: RIC 52a (unlisted officina). Gratian, AD 379-383 Roman Æ maiorina (Æ2); 22.6 mm, 5.87 gm, 8:00 Siscia, AD 378-383 Obv: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right Rev: REPARATIO REIPVB, Gratian standing front, head left, raising kneeling female on left, and holding Victory on a globe; in exergue, BSISC• Refs: RIC 26a4; LRBC 1519; Cohen 30; RCV 20008. Gratian, AD 367-383. Roman Æ maiorina, 5.10 g, 22.6 mm, 1 h. Rome, AD 379-383. Obv: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: REPARATIO REIPVB, emperor standing left, raising kneeling woman to left and holding Victory on globe; SMRQ in exergue. Refs: RIC ix, p. 125, 43(a)4; LRBC II 750; Cohen 30; RCV 20006. Gratian, AD 367-383. Roman Æ half centenionalis. Cyzicus, AD 383. 0.91 g, 14.2 mm, 11 h. Obv: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX in four lines, all within wreath; SMKB in exergue. Refs: RIC ix, p. 244, 22a; LRBC II, 2552; Cohen 77; RCV 20161.
Those are a couple of lovely LRB's @TheNickelGuy I am rather new to this type as well, but I would suggest a correction (other CTers, please chime in on this): that goddess on the reverse is not, despite the legends, Concordia. Rather it is Roma (and/or Constantinopolis) - I am not entirely certain how to tell these apart, but I think Roma is helmeted, Conastantinopolis turreted. Here is an OCRE Gratian search for the CONCORDIA types; note the reverse descriptions: http://numismatics.org/ocre/results?q=portrait_facet:"Gratian"+AND+fulltext:CONCOR I was making the same mistake over the past couple of weeks when working on my first one of these, thinking the reverse goddess must surely be Concordia, given the legends. Nope (unless OCRE is wrong). Concordia was not the kind of deity to wear a helmet, I think. This one is mine thanks to fellow CTer @tenbobbit who generously sent me an enormous lot of lovely ancients back in October. Slowly, I am working them up and photographing them, and plan on sharing the lot in an upcoming post. But as a teaser-trailer, here is this one, same type as the OP, but issued for Theodosius I - I am smitten by the green patina with bronzy highlights: Theodosius I Æ 17 (378-383 A.D.) Siscia Mint DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / CONCOR-DIA AVGGG, Roma seated facing, looking left, holding globe and reversed spear, ASISC in ex. RIC IX Siscia 27d: Subtype 1. (2.22 grams / 17 x 16 mm) @tenbobbit Oct. 2021 Merry Christmas!
In addition, Roma is looking left (west) while Costantinopois is looking right (east). Here's my Roma, from Cyzikus: Gratian Augustus A.D. 367-383 (Bronze) AE III Cyzicus mint, A.D. 378-383 Obv: D N GRATIA-NVS P F AVG Rev: CONCOR-DIA AVGGG - Roma, seated, head turned left, raising right hand (with spear?) and holding globe in left; right leg bare. SMKA in exergue; cross in right field. 17mm, 2.4g.
I only have a Valentinian II of the type AE3 Obv:- DN VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right. Rev:- CONCOR-DIA AVGGG, Roma, helmeted, seated facing, head left, holding globe and spear, the lower part of which is hidden by her robe, right leg bare. Minted in Alexandria (//ALEB) A.D. 378-383 Reference:- RIC IX Alexandria 9b (rated scarce) 2.29 gms. 21.09 mm. 180 degrees Appears to be overstruck on an earlier SECVRITAS - REIPVBLICAE type with parttial legends from the undertype reverse and the head of Victory visible at the front of the neck of the bust.
The turreted goddess is not Concordia, it is Constantinople, because she is enthroned, one foot on prow. This is the characteristic of Constantinople city goddess, an allusion to the naval battle of Chrysopolis (now Üsküdar, a municipality of Istanbul), won by the Constantinian fleet against Licinius, which was immediately followed by the re-foundation of nearby Byzantium, overlooking the battle place, as Constantinopolis. These AE3 Concordia Auggg were minted with either Roma or Constantinopolis on reverse. I have two AE3 Concordia types (Antioch mint), one for Valentinian II with the city-goddess Roma: The other one for Arcadius with the city-goddess Constantinopolis, helmeted, foot on prow:
Interesting. I had never realized these were showing either Roma or Constantinopolis city godesses, and have none to show. Three coins of Gratian's though Siliqua AE2 AE3 Q
