I have a question about this coin of Constantine the Great: Arles mint, A.D. 325-326 RIC 291 Obv: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG Rev: VIRTV-S AVGG - Campgate with open doors and 4 turrets; star above PA[crescent]RL in exergue 20 x 18 mm, 2.2 g. Constantine defeated Licinius in 324 CE to become sole emperor. So who is the extra G in the reverse inscription for (AVGG)? Was he planning to elevate Crispus as co-Augustus? If so, why are there no coins of Crispus as Augustus?
With no idea of the correct answer: The several officinae that made these coins made coins for the Caesars marked CAESS and coins of completely different design for Fausta and Helena as Augustae. Were they counted in the AVGG abbreviation? IDK
Coins of Fausta from that time refer to her as the Augusta. Her reign lasted from 323-326. Perhaps it refers to her? Here's another coin from 324-325: Cyzicus mint, A.D. 324-325 RIC 155 Obv: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG Rev: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG - Campgate with 2 turrets, star above SMKE[dot] in exergue 20 x 18 mm, 2.1 g. The funny thing is, I've had these coins for years and never noticed this before.
I've never really been into late Roman, but having a general working understanding of them I have always assumed such discrepancies are simply due to individual mints and officina errors. It was a hectic time, and one in which the political ongoings were likely to reach the mints only after some time. And of course there would likely be an official directive expected telling them whether or not to add the "G" or drop it. A confusing time in history. I dont know, one would have to do an exhaustive study through all the mints and officina to see if a pattern emerges. Not within my interest, I am afraid!
I would not bet the farm on the chronology of any single coin in RIC VII. It could have been minted prior to the downfall of Licinius the Elder. RIC is a good starting point, but for many volumes the chronology is open to debate at best, open to debate on average and flat out know and agreed by all to be wrong at worst.
I don't think it's a mistake in RIC, and it's definitely not a mint error. The entire campgate series has GG in the reverse inscription. Constantine did not use AVGG during the time he was co-emperor with Licinius on any reverses that I'm aware of. I'd need to go back and check to make sure, but I think it's the immediate 2-3 year period between the deaths of Licinius and Fausta that that he uses AVGG.
