'ancient' Small Fel temp FH

I bought this recently......its really quite small at 2.0g and 13mm, AE4 I guess.
I am interested in two things.
a) what is the mint mark....I think it could be CONSS with maybe a symbol after?
b) what do you guys think its worth?
I'll explain why I ask b) when I get a few answers. Thanks guys.

 

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I have enlarged the rev and changed contrast to help ID any mark after the mintmark??

 

there's a CONSS star for the type...could it be that?

 

not sure mate, Its not very clear..??? certainly CONSS something. What do you reckon to value.....honest opinion?

 

I think it's a very attractive coin, personally. Is the size of the coin unusual for the series though? It seems uncharacteristically small, but I haven't looked it up and I can't keep track of all the Roman shrinkage and reform from memory.

 

You just bought it, right? So its current value is what you paid for it.

 

No it isnt, because I sell coins, so when I buy, I buy 1000 plus at a time.
Don't worry, it was a silly question to ask i guess.

 

Value is difficult to assess when it comes to ancients. If I was collecting FH's by mint mark or looking for errors, like coins struck on under-sized flans (if that's indeed the case here), that coin would be more valuable to me than it would to someone looking for a decent FH type coin. If I was just looking for a type, I would search out a more complete piece.

 

I believe that the left field marks are dot M dot (although only the right dot is showing). If so, and the mintmark is CONSS star, I believe that would make this Constantius II, RIC 144. However, this should be on a 17-18 mm flan, so I don't have an answer for that. It is also listed as common in RIC.

Personally, I think the portrait is pretty darn good considering this series isn't well known for portrait artistry.

I don't think the value is very high since most of the legends, mintmark, and part of the fallen horseman/horse are off flan.

 

The significant feature that will help you find the coin in RIC is the M in the field. RIC VIII page 460 will show you 3 possible choices for what follows CONSS but it makes no difference as to rarity and I doubt there is anyone who already has a falling horseman coin that would want it because of the possibility that it might be one or the other. That makes the coin in that huge group of what I call nuisance value coins. Each dealer has a minimum price he requires for any single coin sold separately. I know dealers who would not have a coin in their stock under $300. The fact that this one can be fully identified to the point of officina number might make you think it is worth more than one missing more of the mintmark. Value? To me, none. What should you sell it for? Not much more.

 

Thanks, my minimum is £2.25.

 

YOC => I think that it is a great lookin' coin (I love the army-greenish patina)

Total winner!!

... sadly, that is one of the few coins that I already own (huh for once, I've bought enough coins)

 

Thanks Steve. I have never collected coins because of mint marks or indeed type. If I see a coin I adore because I love the patina/style or anything else which appeals to my eye I buy it. If when it arrives I love it even more then I may decide to keep it, if not I'll sell it and keep looking. When I hold one of the few coins I have kept, my heart still skips a beat and I feel very very content. Thats what its about for me. I couldnt care less if I have every mint or workshop variety. Its very personal for me and I seldom show anyone else my coins.

 

Steve, 'enough' ? Are you starting to listen to your wife? YOC makes a good point that some don't care about types and varieties while others live for it. To some, all those Romans look alike anyway. Others can name and recognize from a portrait as many dead Romans as they can living friends. I have more trouble remembering names of people on my block than I do some 200 Romans. Sad, eh?

I remember years ago receiving by mail coin lists with no pictures. It was then hard to get some dealers to understand that some of us might care what the mintmark was on a LRB since, to them, any Constantine was just a Constantine but an EF+ was something anyone should buy.

 

Not sad, I am the same......and I get more pleasure from the dead Romans than I do from most of my neighbours. Also, I can put the dead Romans in a cabinet and lock it, but sadly I cannot do this to the nosey cow who lives next door.
Remembering names of neighbours would be easier if we put a small piece of paper on their front with their date of birth, full name and place of birth(mintmark).

 

*YIKES* => Oh My God, Mr. Miyagi => I am so sorry that I spoke out of place!!

=> must buy more coins ... must buy more coins ... wax on ... wax off ... must buy more coins!!

 

Interesting coin VOC. Looks like an AE4 from the middle fourth century struck from AE3 dies. It happened a lot. I have a similar one struck from an AE2 die. Others view it as a defective coin, I find it interesting.

 

Thanks medoraman, in the hand its beautiful and i only paid £2.25 for it, so I'm not going to get upset that some members feel it is without value.

 

Do you like it? Then that is all that matters. Most ancient collectors turn their nose up at my sogdian coins, since most do not survive in what they would consider a "collectible state". I simply do not care, its my collection for my enjoyment.

Its your hobby, enjoy it how it pleases you.

 

So about $5 right?

Not bad, not bad at all.