Constantine II holds spear pointing forwards and globe... on the obverse!

The BEATA TRANQVILLITAS is perhaps the most ripe type with rare bust representations of the whole roman world.
This one is courtesy of Mr. Victor Clark:


CONSTANTINE II AE3 19mm 2.77g Follis/Nummus

AV: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, half-length bust r. laureate, draped and cuirassed with spear pointing forward, globe in left hand

REV: BEATA TRAN *** QVILLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX

EXE: ·STR crescent, Trier mint.

REF: RIC VII Trier - unlisted for G10 bust type and obv. legend 7a (p. 199-200). This type is recorded by Alten & Zschucke (RMBT) but only for officina P (p. 74, no. 148). Possibly unique from officina S. In RIC VII it should be after Trier 408. 323AD.






If you recognize the obverse representation that is probably because you have seen it as reverse for another well-known Constantinian type - the PRINICIPI IVVENTVTIS:

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Not my specialty but very nice!
I wonder what this coin could purchase back in the day?
Congrats!

 

That's cool seth! It just goes to show the more you know about your coins the more you can enjoy them! In my other collection I've found similar kinds of things and it's always so exciting.

 

And here is the corresponding issue for the mint of London:


CONSTANTINE II AE3 18mm 2.12g Follis/Nummus (F) (desert patina)

AV: CONSTANTINVS IVN N C; half-length bust r. laureate, draped and cuirassed with spear pointing forward, globe in left hand.

REV: BEAT TRA-NQLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VOT/IS/XX

EXE: PLON London mint.

REF: Unlisted in RIC for bust type, should have been after RIC VII London 288. Extremely rare, maybe unique, no other specimen known. 323-324AD.

 

Really? That rare, eh? It's hard to fathom this being the only surviving coin of it's type.

 

It's my note and it means I have not been able to locate another spec of this issue anywhere else. None in Huvelin, the most comprehensive source for the Constantinian mint of London, none in BM, none recorded by Mr. Stepniewski on Not In RIC, none in the plethora of old auction catalogues I have browsed, etc.
There must be others somewhere but as far as references, I have nothing.

 

Don't get me wrong. I believe you and I'm certain you've checked all the references you cited. It's just hard to understand that only this lone example exists or that this is the only example cataloged. Boggles the mind.

 

There might be others but like I said they are not recorded in the references I went through. The "unique" part is also wishful thinking that hasn't been disproved yet.
If you consider the big picture though, the fact that we still stumble upon previously unrecorded variations of known types is not that unlikely as these LRBs were minted by the millions in such diversity of variations. We even find completely new types, like for instance this anepigraphic Helena, which is only the second known example, offered by Jose A. Herrero on auction:

What I'm saying is that the late roman period still holds in store a lot of surprises for a patient numismatist