A beautiful Follis of Constantine II as Caesar. It celebrates the glory of the Army. A very glossy chocolate brown patina, detailed and contains a charming bust. Constantine II as Caesar 317-337 AD AE Follis, 17mm, 2.7g, 12h. Trier Mint 330-331 AD Obverse: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, Laureate, cuirassed bust right. Reverse: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, Two soldiers standing, spear in outer hand, between them two standards // TRP• Reference: RIC VII Trier 527, p. 215
Very nice! Here's my one Constantine II: Constantine II Caesar (son of Constantine I), Æ reduced Follis. small bust type, Heraclea Mint (5th Officina), 317 AD. Obv. Small laureate half-bust of young Constantine II left, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa in right hand and globe and scepter in left hand, D N FL CL CONSTANTINVS NOB C / Rev. Campgate with five rows, three turrets, no door, and no star, PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS; in exergue, mintmark MHTЄ [Epsilon = 5th Officina]. RIC VII 20 (p. 545), Sear RCV V 17140, Cohen 107. 18 mm., 3.31 g. (Purchased from Kirk Davis).
C. Nut, Your follis has a nice portrait & attractive mahogany patina . Pictured below is another nummus from the Trier Mint recovered from a hoard in southern France.
CONSTANTINE II AE Follis OBVERSE: D N FL CL CONSTANTINVS NOB C, laureate cuirassed bust right REVERSE: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left with Victory on globe & eagle-tipped sceptre, eagle & captive at feet, X over II Μ right, SMHA in ex. Struck at Heraclea 330-335 AD 3.24g, 20mm RIC VII 55 CONSTANTINE II AE Follis OBVERSE: FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right REVERSE: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, the prince in military dress standing right, holding globe and spear, F-T across fields, mintmark BTR. Struck at Trier 317-8 AD 3.2g, 19.5mm RIC VII 173
II CIIii I RI Constantine II 337-340 CE AE3 GLORIA EXERCITVS Glory to the Army 2 Soldiers 2 Standards II RI Constantine II 337-340 CE AE3 VOT X
Here is a Constantine II AE, which is common but - in my view - spectacular. Obv: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Rev: DOMINOR. NOSTROR. CAESS / T T VOT / X in two lines; crescent below; all within wreath. Mint: Ticinum RIC 172. I think it is not just the EF condition that makes this coin particularly attractive, but the portrait style is in my view exceptionally fine. This charming portrait of Constantine II rivals any of the naturalistic portraits of earlier centuries, in my view.
Dirk, I agree, the portrait is sensational ! The reverse is finely executed too . I copied the photo for my archives .
Very nice, @Collecting Nut, with a lot of interesting detail on the cuirass. I have a fair number of Constantine II coins, but many are not particularly photogenic. Here's my favorite one: Constantine II, Caesar 316-337. Roman billon centenionalis, 3.04 g, 19.2 mm, 11 h. Trier, 2nd officina, AD 320. Obv: CONSTANTI-NVS IVN N C, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, left. Rev: VIRTVS EXERCIT, trophy with bound captives seated to left and right; STR in exergue. Refs: RIC vii, p. 187, 265; Cohen 262; RCV 17285.
I'm glad to see coins that have something going for them besides grade. This one is fine style. The other options include coins that have something 'different' than the usual suspects set of types. For Constantine II, I like these: Seated captives in exergue from Lugdunum with CONSTANTINO in obverse legend. Yes, I would prefer it not to be so rough. The Roma -Amor-EPWC mintmark: Constantine died not too long after he became Augustus so we need an example struck during that period especially if it is one, like this from Siscia, that includes MAX in the obverse legend. A bit more patinated (be that good or bad) is this Alexandria also having the MAX. How do you separate them from coins of his father? Short answer: Look them up in RIC volume VIII. Dads coins are in volume VII.
This type is great. Its on my wishlist. Is it just me, or have the captives had their heads chopped off?
I suspect what you see as heads are the letters P and L of the mintmark. This Constantine I is a bit more clear even showing the facial details just a bit..
