A lot of common types of ancient Roman coins have a rare, or even very rare, variation. Like a certain mint, a specific mint mark, a control symbol or a bust type, etc. etc. It's undeniably thrilling & fun to find & own any rare coin. And this is usually a cheap way to own an R4 or 5. A coin that you could you pick up a pretty nice example of the basic type for a couple bucks any day, but one little letter or something makes it rare (and still possibly a couple bucks). I got this Theodosius a bit ago. The overall type is reasonably common; AE4 Lg module, VOT/XV/MVLT/XX; but from Siscia it's very rare for Theo. RIC IX 31-b is closest. They saw 1 example, seemingly halved. It was officina B, so technically unlisted for A, as this coin is. Rated R5, though that's almost certainly changed by now. Still, it's fun to own a coin that's rated R5/unlisted in RIC. 17mm X 16 1.2g In Ex: ASISC (a lot clearer in-hand) Purchased from Vcoins dealer, London Ancient Coins So, in that vain, what rare coins of a common type do you have? What obscure control symbols, unusual head-wear, rulers facing the wrong way or on a type that barely predated their death, low mintage mints or officina, rare mint marks, rare changes to devices or whatever else on otherwise common coins do you have an example of? Thanks for posting, if you do. Hopefully we get a nice variety. I'll post some examples of different differences too.
That's a very nice example of that coin. It's well-centered and with legible inscriptions and a lovely patina. Well-done! And it's fun owning rare varieties, as you say. This bust type is very rare on this issue. Commodus, AD 177-192. Roman AR denarius, 3.42 g, 18 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 180. Obv: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: LIB AVG TR P V IMP IIII COS II P P, Liberalitas standing left, holding tessera and cornucopiae. Refs: RIC 10a; Cohen 301; BMC 4. This one with the laureate head is the usual variety.
Here is a coin that is quite rare because of subtle differences. I bought it just because I wanted a good portrait of Trajan and investigated later. Trajan quadrantes with she wolf are not very rare. But with this legend IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P it is quite rare. Common legend for them - IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG.
Nice find, good portrait indeed. Is the relief as high as it looks? So many letters on a little coin, beautiful
Yes, it is. Can't remove the black deposits though. The coin had a red/orange color when I bought it. The cleaning experiments I did as a beginner turned it into this color. The deposits remained. I stopped experimenting on it as the coin is rare and with very good details.
I sometimes wonder how many coins are "rare" versus "who would even take the time to look at this?" This Claudius II is apparently unique and unpublished because the reverse is FIDES EXERCITI and not EXER or EXERCI
There's a historical reason why Theodosius is rarer in this issue. These large module AE4s appear in the West in anticipation of Gratian's quindecennalia in 381-2. As part of Illyricum, Siscia was under the direct authority of the western emperor which was Gratian. At this time there was also quite clear that Theodosius would not conform to the role of junior partner and was showing distinct signs of independence in the East, including also minting his own AE types.
Here’s a good example of a rarity that very very very few people would care about. The below coin is an unknown, unpublished variant of known coins with Providentia, a transverse scepter and globe. The known variants have the legend of either PROVID AVG or PROVIDEN AVG… but my coin (hold onto your hats here) has the full PROVIDENTIA AVG for the reverse legend. I’ve been looking for other examples of this coin for years and have yet to find a single example. However, as rare as it is… I’d probably struggle to get more than $10 for it on eBay. I like it, but it is an ugly coin. Gallienus - PROVIDENTIA [AVG] I posted about this one on FORVM awhile back… here’s the thread if interested: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=119541.msg723838#msg723838
Same series with the OP, but the regular issue for Gratian at Siscia for his quidecennalia: A similar smaller type, but later, from Alexandria, marking the decennalia of Theodosius I but minted for Valentinian II, misspelling his name as VALENTINIAVS and from the third officina, usually reserved to Theodosius: A Theodosius II from Nicomedia, no officina mark, unlisted but there is a precedent at Constantinople at the same time with two issues, one with the longer mintmark CONS and another with the shorter mintmark CON:
Coins from the VLPP series from Siscia are pretty common but this coin is not listed in RIC, but not so rare that I haven't had other examples...this is the nicest one though. There were also four examples of this type in the Bikic-Do hoard, # 388- 391. Two from officina gamma, one from delta, and one from epsilon. it should come after RIC 100. On the reverse, the stylus that Victory is engraving the shield with was engraved over by the P of "VOT PR" Constantine I A.D. 319-320 18mm 3.1g CONST-ANTINVS AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right. VICT• LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar inscribed with the letter S. In ex. ΓSIS• RIC VII Siscia--; Bikic-Do hoard # 388- 391
I got one in the mail today. A Constantine, SOLI INVICTO COMITI, a pretty common type. But at Ticinum, one of the control symbols used was probably the first intentionally Christian symbol on a Roman coin. There's a Cross in the L field & a Star in the R; the cross is reasonably rare & a cool checklist item. Valentinian has a great page on early Christian symbols that gets into it. From Savoca.
The Theo. II is interesting. Nicomedia changed their MM not long after, if not immediately after, that issue(I think, I oughta check before running my mouth). His monogram pieces from a bit later have both SMNA & NIC. I wonder if they did transition to a version without an officina like Constantinople before changing it. Cyzicus & Thessalonica switched to a different officina-less MM soon after under Marcian. Interesting.
