Havent seen too many ancient topics lately so I thought I'd try n spark up a conversation. So what are some of your favorate mints? and why?
Rome mint early on: Colonia Agrippinensis during the third century: And one particular engraver at the Siscia mint in around 319:
I have a couple dozen of them but I'll mention one that some might overlook: Rome: OK, most Roman coins came from Rome up to a point but by the end of the 3rd century AD there were several other mints that were out producing the old capital city. By the time of the most common Constantinian coins, Rome mint examples can be considerably more scarce than similar things from Siscia, Thessalonica, Alexandria etc. etc. etc. At times much of the efforts at Rome went to gold and medallions with some everyday common AE3's being rare. Generally workmanship and artistic style at Rome was good if, perhaps, a bit boringly normal. Often they used reverse types not seen at other mints. During the later period, Roma usually used a mintmark R along with an officina (workshop) letter. My example here is a Crispus with mintmark RP (Roma Prima) in exergue and control letters PR (probably Populi Romanorum) in the field. The reverse shows Roma with a shield XV honoring the intended extension of his vows to 15 years even though he was nowhere close to that number of years in 318-319 AD when RIC (149 page 314 vol. VII) places this coin. The same reverse was used for his father and Licinius for whom the date was more appropriate as well as the younger Constantine II and Licinius II. RIC lists this exact coin as an R5 but others in the series are as common as R3. This example is not well struck but has a bit of remaining silver so would be considered a collectible coin by most specialists. It was good enough to be the plate coin 315CR in Victor Failmezger's book Roman Bronze Coins from Paganism to Christianity 294-364 AD. Is Rome my favorite mint? No way! There should be plenty of room below for other choices.
I like Rome as well, but seen some very nice ones from Siscia , Constantinople and Alexandria (others too)... but yeah I really like Rome. Not too many provicials I really like though.
Yeah doug, those are beautiful coins. I really like those busts with the spear and shield. The close up of the detail on Probus' shield is just great.... it's a man on horseback right? But as far as my favorite mint... hard to say.... either Rome or Antioch I suppose.... but it's a tough choice.... I also always liked the coins of Septimius Severus and his family that were minted in Laodicea....
While my favorites have always been the Eastern denarii of Septimius, I am more uncomfortable than ever with the divisions and locations of the Syrian mints including Ancioch, Emesa and Laodicea. This starts with Septimius but does not really get better until they started marking the mint names on coins. Laodicea under Septimius has traditionally been divided into 'Old Style' and 'New Style' but I'm less than convinced that the two were the same city or that either was actually Laodicea. A lot of it was based on a theory that Antioch was punished for supporting Pescennius Niger and Laodicea received its mint. I'll be very interested to see what the next edition of RIC does with these coins if a new version comes out in my lifetime. For now, I'll post one later 'Old Style' and earlier 'New Style'. They are IMP VIII and VIIII so they ride the fence between the two making one wonder if we need more than two 'Styles' to cover the mint (or mints???). They include some very interesting coins however we divide them.
I have also always liked Eastern mints if we restrict our discussion to Romans. I can appreciate Rome's technical proficiency, but like their society in general I find it technical proficient but lacking "style" like the Greeks had. Rome was excellent at taking an idea, perfecting it, and executing it well. I more like the artistic air that came from the East. If we aren't restricting ourselves, I like many mints, such as Syracuse under many mint authorities, Western Sassanid mints during their first 150 years, Carthage, and the early production of Chersonnus under the Byzantines.
Definately not I like alot of the drachms (one with Helios) from Rhodes. Some are also very ugly IMO, but alot are very beutiful.
Ah yes randy, those Helios drachmai from Rhodes are pretty cool.... I especially like the radiate profile portrait ones. doug, beautiful coins, as usual. I love your PROFECTIO denarius, wonderful detail.
