Here is a coin that I sold a while ago and thought that it was fairly interesting. It is a Constans Fel Temp galley from Antioch and while it is not listed in RIC for the diadem type; what is really nice is the figurehead on the prow of the galley. It looks like a wolf or maybe a draco. Small details like this really elevate these LRB's. I have only seen a few of these over the years, often the detail is not clear enough to be certain what is depicted. The FTR Galley type is likely a reference to a visit Constans made to Britain in A.D. 343, and it seems he was celebrating some sort of a victory on these coins. For more on this, see the article by Konrad Kraft “Die Taten der Kaiser Constans und Constantius II” Constans A.D. 348-350 22x23mm 5.0gm D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG; rosette-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right. FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Emperor in military dress stg. l., holding phoenix on globe and standard with X on banner; in stern sits Victory, steering ship with figurehead. In ex. ANB RIC VIII Antioch –
That’s very cool! I’ll have to take a closer look at some of my tally ftr’s after work. It’s neat to find “minutiae” like this.
Thanks, @Victor_Clark for sharing these kinds of bits and details! I tend to pass by LRBs because they seem to sort of blur together to me (their portraits tend to look so similar to me and have an overload of FTR fallen horseman, campgates, wreaths, and victories). BUT it is things like this you shared that really start to fascinate me and take a second and third look. THANKS for that! Also for others who have shared the variations of the horses and shield on the FTR fallen horseman, that is starting to make me look more at the ones I have and others that are being offered.
Antioch engravers did the best work. Below is another fancy example. Lots of great detail, even the rudder is nicely done. Constans A.D. 348-350 21x24mm 4.3gm D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right. FEL TEMP REPARATIO Emperor in military dress stg. l., holding phoenix on globe and standard with cross on banner; in stern sits Victory, steering ship; ✶ in right field. In ex. ANΔ RIC VIII Antioch 124
This is the first I've heard of this. It's an interesting idea. I've often wondered if the FTRs represent specific events or are intended, perhaps collectively, to relate a story about the emperors' deeds or exploits. Do you know if there are similar theories about what the barbarian/hut and/or the emperor/captive(s) types might represent?
RIC VIII also says that the FTR Galley types seems to be a reference to a visit Constans made to Britain in A.D. 343. Kraft writes that the Hut FTR coins were issued to commemorate the A.D. 342 resettlement of the Frankish people within the Roman Empire, on the left bank of the Rhine River, mainly in Toxandria. The two captives FTR was likely issued to celebrate the victory of the Roman Army under the command of Constantius II at the Battle of Singara, which occurred in A.D. 344. The Roman Empire claimed to have defeated the Sassanid Army led by Shapur II, but in reality, the Persians left the battle, as Shapur II realized he was spread too thin.
Cool coin @Victor_Clark - I'd love to add one of these to my collection, phoenix really shows and so does the prow. Nice.
