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Constantine I SPES PVBLIC from Constantinople
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<p>[QUOTE="Heliodromus, post: 7812317, member: 120820"]I don't see a connection between DAFNE and the earlier types.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you look at the overall picture of Constantinople from opening to 330 AD, we have the following sequence of issues:</p><p><br /></p><p>1) The mint opens with the same sole-rule set of types as Constantine's other mints, including the vicennalia anepigraphic.</p><p><br /></p><p>anepigraphic</p><p><br /></p><p>VOT XXX (dropped in favor of PROV. AVGG perhaps, given pattern at other mints).</p><p><br /></p><p>PROV. AVGG campgate</p><p>PROV. CAESS campgate</p><p><br /></p><p>Fausta SALVS</p><p>Helena SECVRITAS</p><p><br /></p><p>2) The regular types are now replaced by the SPES/LIBERTAS "victory" group, apparently a delayed celebration of Constantine's victory over Licinius, with specific allusion to Crispus's local naval victory on the Bosphorus. It's interesting to see the officina assignment of these types to the 3 officinas then in use:</p><p><br /></p><p>A - GLORIA ROMANORVM + SPES PVBLIC</p><p>B - LIBERTAS PVBLICA</p><p>G - GLORIA EXERCITVS</p><p><br /></p><p>The point of interest here is that SPES shares an officina rather than being assigned one to itself. Perhaps an indication of it's relative importance to Constantine, else maybe a hunch of it's unpopularity that apparently forced him to cancel the type. Per context in this group, I don't think the type was really meant to make a major statement other than ongoing dynastic victory/protection.</p><p><br /></p><p>3) Same group of four types as above, but now with diadem for Constantine (vs laureate before), and number of officinas expanded from 3 to 7. GLORIA ROMANORVM get most officinas. Diademed SPES is extremely rapidly dropped/withdrawn.</p><p><br /></p><p>4) The special victory types are now discontinued, to be replaced with DAFNE for Constantine, and a resumption of PROV. CAESS campgate for the caesars. There are three issues with these types:</p><p><br /></p><p>CONS</p><p>CONS dot</p><p>CONS *</p><p><br /></p><p>The CONSANTIANA DAFNE type here, being issued alongside the PROV. CAESS campgate for the caesars, has taken the place of the PROV. AVGG campgate that was issued alongside PROV. CAESS at the other mints, so we might take that as a clue to it's meaning rather that the preceding victory types to which it has no affinity in the sequence of types.</p><p><br /></p><p>I tend to support the interpretation of the DAFNE type as a reference to the DAFNE fort that Constantine built on the Danube, and this would make sense as a localized substitute for the more generic PROV. AVGG campgate used at the other mints. Given his battles against the Sarmatians, and the positioning of Constantinople relative to the Danube, with easy retreat cut off by the Bosphorus, it may have been a reassuring type for the citizens of Constantinople.</p><p><br /></p><p>The DAFNE type itself is interesting; in featuring a seated victory with spoils of war it seems to be referring to prior victories, but has the unusual detail of Victory looking back over her shoulder. It's as if she's watching her back for any further trouble, looking back towards the Danube and Dafne fort perhaps.</p><p><br /></p><p>It's interesting to note that the special anepigraphic DAFNE was paired with the unlisted anepigraphic "HELENA AVGVSTA" fraction featuring a very similar seated victory reverse, but with victory facing forward as is more normal. It seems the backward facing victory was only appropriate to the DAFNE type, maybe for the reason suggested above.</p><p><br /></p><p>5) Not only was the DAFNE type singled out for the anepigraphic issue, but it's special nature is also indicated by it having also been struck in gold and silver as well as bronze.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, that's my take. Given it's pairing with the PROV. CAESS campgate, replacing PROV AVGG, I see DAFNE as a localized protective type for the people of Constantinople, referring to the fort. Victory (and the DAFNE fort) has their back![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Heliodromus, post: 7812317, member: 120820"]I don't see a connection between DAFNE and the earlier types. If you look at the overall picture of Constantinople from opening to 330 AD, we have the following sequence of issues: 1) The mint opens with the same sole-rule set of types as Constantine's other mints, including the vicennalia anepigraphic. anepigraphic VOT XXX (dropped in favor of PROV. AVGG perhaps, given pattern at other mints). PROV. AVGG campgate PROV. CAESS campgate Fausta SALVS Helena SECVRITAS 2) The regular types are now replaced by the SPES/LIBERTAS "victory" group, apparently a delayed celebration of Constantine's victory over Licinius, with specific allusion to Crispus's local naval victory on the Bosphorus. It's interesting to see the officina assignment of these types to the 3 officinas then in use: A - GLORIA ROMANORVM + SPES PVBLIC B - LIBERTAS PVBLICA G - GLORIA EXERCITVS The point of interest here is that SPES shares an officina rather than being assigned one to itself. Perhaps an indication of it's relative importance to Constantine, else maybe a hunch of it's unpopularity that apparently forced him to cancel the type. Per context in this group, I don't think the type was really meant to make a major statement other than ongoing dynastic victory/protection. 3) Same group of four types as above, but now with diadem for Constantine (vs laureate before), and number of officinas expanded from 3 to 7. GLORIA ROMANORVM get most officinas. Diademed SPES is extremely rapidly dropped/withdrawn. 4) The special victory types are now discontinued, to be replaced with DAFNE for Constantine, and a resumption of PROV. CAESS campgate for the caesars. There are three issues with these types: CONS CONS dot CONS * The CONSANTIANA DAFNE type here, being issued alongside the PROV. CAESS campgate for the caesars, has taken the place of the PROV. AVGG campgate that was issued alongside PROV. CAESS at the other mints, so we might take that as a clue to it's meaning rather that the preceding victory types to which it has no affinity in the sequence of types. I tend to support the interpretation of the DAFNE type as a reference to the DAFNE fort that Constantine built on the Danube, and this would make sense as a localized substitute for the more generic PROV. AVGG campgate used at the other mints. Given his battles against the Sarmatians, and the positioning of Constantinople relative to the Danube, with easy retreat cut off by the Bosphorus, it may have been a reassuring type for the citizens of Constantinople. The DAFNE type itself is interesting; in featuring a seated victory with spoils of war it seems to be referring to prior victories, but has the unusual detail of Victory looking back over her shoulder. It's as if she's watching her back for any further trouble, looking back towards the Danube and Dafne fort perhaps. It's interesting to note that the special anepigraphic DAFNE was paired with the unlisted anepigraphic "HELENA AVGVSTA" fraction featuring a very similar seated victory reverse, but with victory facing forward as is more normal. It seems the backward facing victory was only appropriate to the DAFNE type, maybe for the reason suggested above. 5) Not only was the DAFNE type singled out for the anepigraphic issue, but it's special nature is also indicated by it having also been struck in gold and silver as well as bronze. So, that's my take. Given it's pairing with the PROV. CAESS campgate, replacing PROV AVGG, I see DAFNE as a localized protective type for the people of Constantinople, referring to the fort. Victory (and the DAFNE fort) has their back![/QUOTE]
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Constantine I SPES PVBLIC from Constantinople
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