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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;David@PCC, post: 2827358, member: 80556&quot;]History records the myth of the founding of Rome on April 723 BC. According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the twins, Numitor was deposed by his younger brother Amulius, who forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin so that she would not give birth to rival claimants to his title. However, Rhea was impregnated by the war god Mars and gave birth to Romulus and Remus. Amulius ordered the infants drowned in the Tiber, but they survived and washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine hill, where they were suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by the shepherd Faustulus.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665501[/ATTACH] </p><p><font size="3">The she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus</font></p><p><font size="3"><i>Capitoline Museum, Rome</i></font></p><p><br /></p><p>Some background is needed to lead into my quest now going on for more than 15 years. Since I learned of their existence I have wanted a complete set of city commemorative a.k.a. commemorative series celebrating the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Rome.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have yet to complete this task but made some good progress this year purchasing no less than 7 new specimens. The 1100th anniversary would fall on 347 AD and coins were being minted as early as 330 for this auspicious event. Constantine&#039;s sons continued with the commemorative series for some time after his death. </p><p><br /></p><p>On 11 May 330 AD, Constantine dedicated Constantinople as the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire. To mark the event, millions of small bronze coins were minted in many of the imperial mints along with lesser minted medallions and silver coins. Many of these depicted Roma or Constantinopolis on the obverse and various mythological reverses types proclaiming Constantine’s foundation of a new capital and dynasty, while associating this capital with Rome’s traditional seat of power, and legitimizing his dynasty through its connection to Rome’s mythological past.</p><p><br /></p><p>The coins are not depicted in any particular order but are arranged in groups of coins I possess, ones I hope to add, and others I am not holding my breath for acquiring anytime soon or at all.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">________________________</p><p><br /></p><p><b>In my current collection</b></p><p><br /></p><p>These are the most common and recognizable of the series. I looked for harder to find ones early on allowing me to look for better examples of these this year while still on a budget.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri238.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Arles</p><p>330 AD</p><p>Obvs: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Laureate and helmeted bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding reversed spear.</p><p>Revs: Victory standing left on prow, holding spear and shield. Star to left, PCONST.</p><p>AE 17x19mm, 2.21g</p><p>Ref: RIC VII.352</p><p>ex Victor Clark</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri239.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Arles</p><p>334 or 336 AD</p><p>Obvs: VRBS ROMA, Helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left.</p><p>Revs: She-wolf standing left, head right, suckling the twins. Above chi-rho between two stars, (P)CONS(T).</p><p>AE 14x15mm, 1.57g</p><p>Ref: RIC VII.385/400</p><p><br /></p><p>The two above come in a mind boggling variety of mints and devices. The next two are similar to the above but less common.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri210.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Rome</p><p>336/337 AD</p><p>Obvs: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Laureate and helmeted bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding reversed spear.</p><p>Revs: VICTO RIA AVG, Victory standing left on prow, holding wreath and palm. ϵ below.</p><p>AE 13x15mm, 0.76g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.20/31/42</p><p><br /></p><p>Oddly RIC seems to have 3 identical entries for this coin? There also exist a variety of this one that has no inscription. This one <u>must</u> be very rare and I have not seen one. Below was only minted in Rome.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri157.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Rome</p><p>337 to 340 AD</p><p>Obvs: VRBS ROMA BEATA, Roma helmeted, draped, and cuirassed left.</p><p>Revs: She-wolf standing left, head right, suckling the twins. Above wreath between two stars, R * Q.</p><p>AE 14x15mm, 1.22g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.29</p><p><br /></p><p>The next 4 are votives. The have the same obverses as the others but contain reverses of coins from others found from the family of Constantine. Minted at numerous imperial mints a distinction is the CONSTANTINOPOLI inscription versus the standard CONSTANTINOPOLIS. The shorter of the two only occurring at a few mints on the shores of the Propontus.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri234.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Constantinople</p><p>336/337 AD</p><p>Obvs: VRBS ROMA, Helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left.</p><p>Revs: Two soldiers standing facing one another, each holding reversed spear and resting hand upon shield. Between, signum surmounted by banner with annulet. CONSϵ</p><p>AE 15x16mm, 1.44g</p><p>Ref: RIC VII.143</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri236.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Constantinople</p><p>336/337 AD</p><p>Obvs: CONSTANTINOPOLI, Laureate and helmeted bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding reversed spear.</p><p>Revs: Two soldiers standing facing one another, each holding reversed spear and resting hand upon shield. Between, signum surmounted by banner with annulet. CONSZ</p><p>AE 13x15mm, 127g</p><p>Ref: RIC VII.144</p><p>ex Warren Esty</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri235.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Heraclea</p><p>347/348 AD</p><p>Obvs: CONSTANTINOPOLI, Laureate and helmeted bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding reversed spear.</p><p>Revs: VOT XX MVLT XXX, in wreath. SMHΓ</p><p>AE 12x14mm, 1.02g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.50</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri237.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Heraclea</p><p>347/348 AD</p><p>Obvs: VRBS ROMA, Helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left.</p><p>Revs: VOT XX MVLT XXX, in wreath. SMHB</p><p>AE 13x14mm, 1.41g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.49</p><p>ex Warren Esty</p><p><br /></p><p>Still not done yet, I did mention there were millions of these made right?</p><p><br /></p><p>The next 4 follow more of a medallion or &#039;special&#039; issue design but are much smaller than medallions and made for the consecration of Constantinople. These were minted at Rome and Constantinople only. PR may mean Pop Romanus.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri240.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Constantinople</p><p>330 AD</p><p>Obvs: POP ROMANVS, Draped bust of genius left, cornucopia over shoulder.</p><p>Revs: Eight pointed star in wreath, CONSI.</p><p>AE 14mm, 1.44g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.22</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri233.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Constantinople</p><p>330 AD</p><p>Obvs: POP ROMANVS, Draped bust of genius left, cornucopia over shoulder.</p><p>Revs: Bridge over river, CONS ϴ above.</p><p>AE 15mm, 0.98g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.21</p><p><br /></p><p>I did a write up on this one <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/commemorative-showing-the-milvian-bridge-or-does-it.297629/#post-2761401" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/commemorative-showing-the-milvian-bridge-or-does-it.297629/#post-2761401">HERE</a> which tries to guess which bridge is actually on the reverse. The poll is almost split 50/50 on it being the Milvian bridge or one that we will never know.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri241.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Rome</p><p>348 AD</p><p>Obvs: RO MA, Helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left.</p><p>Revs: Emperor standing facing, head left, wearing military attire, holding spear and shield. P–R across field.</p><p>AE 16mm, 2.38g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.104</p><p>ex Victor Clark</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/ri242.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorative Series</p><p>Mint Rome</p><p>348 AD</p><p>Obvs: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Laureate and helmeted bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding reversed spear.</p><p>Revs: Pax standing left, holding branch and scepter. P–R across field.</p><p>AE 15mm, 1.60g</p><p>Ref: RIC VIII.106</p><p><br /></p><p>This last one begins the silver issues. This one is a new and debated denomination called a scripulum. It is generally 1/2 or a third the weight of a siliqua. To make it more ambiguous this particular one is believed to commemorate the 200th founding of Constantinople which would put it in Justinian&#039;s reign. However types almost identical to this were issued for the 1100th anniversary so I include it in the same group.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.poseidoncoincompany.com/images/b278.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Commemorating Constantinople</p><p>5th/6th c. AD</p><p>Mint: Constantinople</p><p>AR Scripulum</p><p>Obvs: Helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust of Constantinopolis right.</p><p>Revs: Large K.</p><p>13x15mm, 1.07g</p><p>Bendall 8c</p><p><br /></p><p>That concludes coins in my collection. Next I continue with silver but these are NOT in my collection.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">________________________</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Commemoratives I hope to obtain in the future</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Continuing with issues celebrating Constantinople is a similar type as above except the obverse which may depict Helena, Fausta, or Theodora but no one is sure.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665325[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Commemorative Series. </b>AD 330-354. AR Third Siliqua (12mm, 1.14 g, 12h). Dedication issue. Constantinople mint. Struck under Constantine I, circa AD 330. Pearl-diademed and mantled bust right, wearing pearl necklace / Large K. RIC VII -; Bendall, <i>Anonymous</i> 4; RSC -. EF, toned. Good quality metal.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665329[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>COMMEMORATIVE SERIES.</b> 337-354 AD. AR Third-Siliqua (15mm, 0.82 g). Constantinople mint. Struck circa 330 AD. Helmeted and draped bust of Roma right / Large P within beaded border. J. P. C. Kent, &quot;Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis Medallions at the mint of Rome,&quot; <i>Essays Sutherland</i>, p. 112, pl. 13, 29; RSC -; Vagi 3039. VF, toned, flan crack, edge chip.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665490[/ATTACH] </p><p>ROME. Ca.5th-6th Centuries A.D.</p><p>AR Scripulum. Helmeted bust of Roma r. Rv. Large R. 1.04 grams. Kent pl.2.30, Vagi 3040. Pleasing pale gray. Extremely Fine. (500-700)</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Tallent &amp; Belzberg Collections</p><p><br /></p><p>These letters are to represent the cities of Rome (R,P), and Constantinople (K).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665333[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Commemorative Series. </b>AD 330-354. AR Half Siliqua (16mm, 1.30 g). Constantinople mint. Struck under Constantine I, circa AD 330. Eight-rayed star / Laurel wreath with central jewel. RIC -; Bendall, <i>Anonymous</i>6; RSC -. EF, lightly toned.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have also seen these in bronze.</p><p><br /></p><p>Lastly is a group I would only categorize as unicorns or coins out of my reach.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">________________________</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Commemoratives I would like to obtain but probably won&#039;t happen</b></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665339[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>COMMEMORATIVE SERIES. </b>337-354 AD. Æ Medallion (32mm, 25.86 gm). Rome mint. Struck 337-340. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS, draped bust of Constantinopolis right, wearing laureate crested Corinthian helmet and necklace, holding sceptre over right shoulder / VIC-TO-RIA AVG, Constantinopolis, winged and turreted, seated left, holding branch and cornucopiae, left foot on prow. RIC VII 303; RIC VIII 362; F. Ntantalia,<i>Bronzemedallions unter Konstantin dem grossen und seinen söhnen</i>, Series B, 6 (V4/R4); J.P.C. Kent, &quot;Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis Medallions at the mint of Rome,&quot; <i>Scripta Nummaria Romana</i> pg. 109, 13; Gnecchi 4. VF, olive green patina. Very rare.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665503[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Commemorative Series. </b>AD 330-354. Æ Pattern of 1½ Solidi (25mm, 6.10 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa AD 330. CONSTAN TINOPOLI, turreted and draped bust of Constantinopolis left, wearing elaborate neckless / Victory standing facing between two shields set on ground, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond in left; CONS. RIC -; Ntantalia -; Kent -; Gnecchi -. Good VF, dark green patina, some red, minor roughness and smoothing. Unique.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>As far as I know the above is the only known in existence.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665342[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Commemorative Series. </b>AD 330-354. Æ Medallion (34mm, 26.40 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 340-350. VRBS ROMA, draped bust of Roma left, wearing laureate crested helmet and necklace / She-wolf to left, suckling Romulus and Remus; two stars above. RIC VII 349; Ntantalia Series C, Group 9, 108 (V78/R72); Kent 19 and pl. 12, 14 (same dies); Gnecchi 6 and pl. 132, 7 (same dies). Near EF, attractive dark green patina, minor areas of roughness. Very rare.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>The above medallion sold for $26000 plus fees in 2013.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]665492[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Constantine I. </b>AD 307/310-337. AR Medallion of 5 Siliquae (30mm, 17.86 g, 6h). Donative to Commemorate the Dedication of Constantinople. Constantinople mint, 6th officina. Struck shortly before 11 May AD 330. Laurel-and-rosette-diademed head right / D N CONSTANTINVS down left field, MAX TRIVMF AVG, down right, Roma enthroned facing with right foot on footstool, shield on ground at side, holding globus in right hand and scepter in left; MCONSS. RIC VII -; Gnecchi -; RSC -; Tkalec (23 October 1998), lot 300. Good VF, small repair on cheek. Extremely rare with this reverse.</p><p>Coin image courtesy of Classical Numismatic Group.</p><p><br /></p><p>CNG writes: <span style="color: #bfbfbf"><i><span style="color: #000000">&quot;</span><span style="color: #59b300">On 11 May 330 AD, after almost six years of transformation from the ancient city of Byzantium, Constantine dedicated Constantinople as the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire. Forty days of festivities culminated with a final dedication ceremony in the newly-enlarged Hippodrome. To commemorate the dedication, silver five-siliquae multiples were struck which were presented to the new city’s elite in the emperor&#039;s presence. They were minted with two reverse types: the well-known seated Constantinopolis, struck at six different officinae, and the very rare seated Roma, struck only at officina S. Their anepigraphic obverse with the large head of Constantine right and the vertical placement of the reverse legend on either side of the figure are reminiscent of Hellenistic royal tetradrachms.</span><span style="color: #000000">&quot;</span></i></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #bfbfbf"><span style="color: #000000">If I am lucky I only need 4 more for a &quot;complete&quot; set, at least for the ones that I think I can afford. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center">________________________</p><p><br /></p><p><b>References</b></p><p><br /></p><p>History Channel - <a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rome-founded" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rome-founded" rel="nofollow">Founding of Rome</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Roman-empire.net - <a href="http://www.roman-empire.net/founding/found-index.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.roman-empire.net/founding/found-index.html" rel="nofollow">The founding of Rome</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Classical Numismatic Group - <a href="https://cngcoins.com/Default.aspx" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://cngcoins.com/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://cngcoins.com/Default.aspx</a></p><p><a href="https://cngcoins.com/Default.aspx" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://cngcoins.com/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow"></a></p><p>Coinage and History of the Roman Empire by David Vagi - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Coinage-History-Roman-Empire-II/dp/0944945317" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.amazon.com/Coinage-History-Roman-Empire-II/dp/0944945317" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Coinage-History-Roman-Empire-II/dp/0944945317</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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