A special FH

So this one is a little worn, has a crack in it and I already have a way better example of ric122. However it's an earlier issue of Antioch (a bit harder to find) but what makes this even more special is the spiral shield carried by the Roman soldier. I've seen some with dotted borders, bands/stripes out from the center or across (similar to the British flag) and from various angles (usually from the front) but this is the first spiral shield I've seen.





Constantius II
Antioch
5,24 g / 23 mm
obverse D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right;
reverse FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO, Gamma in left, soldier, with spiral shield, spearing Horseman,hair in braids, bearded, reaching back towards soldier

ANZ Antioch 122


Here is my other RIC122





and an ealier Rome issue with an interest shield. (both shields seen from the side too)



Feel free to share any "minutiae."

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery.

...and that is a cool FH!

 

It's grown well beyond being just a problem

 

Brilliant finds.I have nothing even remotely comparable.

 

Randy plays down just how sharp you have to be to pick up on things like these shields. I propose we award him the degree FHD (Doctor of Falling Horsemen). Notice his ANB is a 'stirrup' coin (the variation that got me into FH). Dr. Geki's collection will make quite some book in another 50 years of study!

 

Makes me want to go back and take a better look at the three or four that were int he bag o Romans. I posted two here already...but there are others.

 

Great find Randy!

 

Experience teaches that each time you look at an old coin you can see something you missed before.

 

Another great addition @randygeki !

I keep hoping to see you post a top ten list of most interesting FH varieties

 

Nice shield on it, Randy.

 

Done! Congratulation Randy!

 

I really don't understand this obcession with one type of coin. Thats something you'll never see me do...never! -- said Sallent while hiding his large pile of Gordian III coins from view.

@randygeki I've never been fond of fallen horsemen, but your collection is making me rethink it and I think I'll probably add one soon enough. I think after being exposed to your new acquisitions for some time, I'm beginning to be fond of them.

 

Interesting shield design.
Looks like it could be a new Halloween eye contact design.

 

What a neat variant! The whims of these die engravers certainly have given us specialists enough variants to ponder over for many years. Congrats!

 

I checked out my few and none of the shields have anything interesting on them--just a dot in the middle.

Failmezger's Roman Bronze Coins From Paganism to Christianity, 294-364 A.D. lists about 300 varieties of FEL TEMP REPARATIO coins and discusses them on a few pages. My cursory inspection of it did not find any reference to shield varieties.

You found something really special!

 

When Tory's book was written there was a lot less out there on these coins than now. In the last 20 years we have seen a lot more on the attire and hairstyles of the barbarians. We have found coins that were a bit hard to force into the FH1 to FH4 descriptions (like the struggling to his feet as opposed to seated). Tory dropped out of the hobby and no one else picked up his crusade for recognition of the stirrups. No one then mentioned little differences. Tory owned Bruck in German and read German; I had to wait for the translation to be published. I suspect Dane would have spent more time on the FH coins but her efforts in saving Wildwinds is enough to keep anyone busy.

FH2.1 "Struggling" barbarian with radial shield held by soldier

I observe that every specialty I investigate seems to be a lot more complex than we previously thought. I have a feeling that a proper study of any subject would turn up more than 99% of collectors want to know. Here on CT we have our Severan, our Flavian, our 5th century and several other members quite capable of talking forever about subjects that mystify those who think all that you need to know will fit on a slab label. My question today is how long will it be before another of us finds a spiral shield like Randy's. Who will it be? I hope it is someone who cares.

 

Great find and it seems to be the little things like this that make each coin, no matter how many you have of the type, so interesting. Awesome attention to detail Doctor!

 

Nice find. There is some great variety in these late bronze coins.

 

Thanks all

The ANH with the bent elbow was a really cool find, one I'd like to get sometime, and your Rome 309 has the cool sideways dotted shield. Thanks for not bidding on it too

Haha thanks (^_^) Some of my patients call me DR Randy because I wear a surgical cap all day lol

I've been trying to write a more elaborate post/article to put on ct. It's tough because half the stuff I'd want to write about would mostly be a direct quote from your pages. If I ever wrote a book, it'd have to be collaborative, I never would have noticed the stirrups with out your page. Other wise it would be a book mostly plates of cheap coins.

I could do that, at least with the ones I have. I have another neat one coming, but it's been sitting at the USPS NY ISC 10 days. Starting to worry.

 

Haha thanks

I mirror your opinion, you have a great Gordy collection and I feel tempted to get more when you post them

Those are pretty cool lol

And more to look for