I am working on a project in which I survey the SOL STANDING reverse variations for Constantine’s coinage struck between 310 and 319. Nearly all of these coins bear the legend SOLI INVICTO COMITI. I am not concerned with the “dual bust” type with this legend. So what am I considering a significant variant? That’s a good question, and one I'm still working on. Admittedly, my approach has not been strictly uniform. Typically, the variant will involve an attribute, like a whip or globe or captive. I am not considering posture differences, such as which of Sol’s legs is bent, except for the rare “Sol facing” reverse from Ticinum. I am also not looking at line breaks in the legend, nor control marks, with the exception of the Latin cross that appears in the left field of some Ticinum issues. It’s been suggested (by @Valentinian and others) that this mark is evidence of a Christian die engraver at Ticinum and thus is something more than a simple control mark. I am not concerned with obverse variations, though if someone has a really interesting obverse (e.g., Constantine wearing trabea) I would love to see it. @VictorClark had a SOLI INVICTO COMITI coin with Constantine making the “imperial gestus.” Very cool. All this is to say that if folks on this board are aware of any variations I haven’t thought of, or if you have some interesting or attractive coins of this type, I’d love to see them. Have I listed them all? Am I missing anything? Here’s a quick illustration of the reverse variants I note so far: MOST COMMON TYPE: SOL HOLDING GLOBE, WITH RAISED HAND. (Struck at London, Trier, Lyon, Ticinum, Aquileia, Rome, Ostia, Arles, and Siscia): SOL ADVANCING WITH GLOBE. LUGDUNUM: SOL ADVANCING WITH WHIP. LUGDUNUM: COMITI AVGG NN. LONDON: CROSS (?) CONTROL MARK. TICINUM: SOL WITH GLOBE AND WHIP. TICINUM: SOL FACING. TICINUM: SOL HOLDING VICTORY ON GLOBE. ROME: SOL WITH CAPTIVE. ROME. (THESE WERE STRUCK AT AQUILEIA TOO.):
It appears I've sold that one actually. Late September. It's now at a new home! Here's one with a front-facing Sol and some killer abs. Constantine the Great AE Follis 312 - 313 A.D., Ostia Mint, 1st Officina 4.50g, 22.0mm, 6H Obverse: IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Bust of Constantine I, laureate, cuirassed, right Reverse: SOLI INV-I-CTO COMITI, Sol, chlamys flying out, standing front, head left, raising right hand and holding up globe in left hand Exergue: -/-//MOSTP Provenance: Ex. Navi eBay 2018 Reference: RIC VI Ostia 89
CONSTANTINE I AE2 Follis OBVERSE: Constantine I AE3. 315-316 AD. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust right REVERSE: SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol, radiate, standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe, right hand raised, S-F across fields, MLN in ex. Struck at London 315-16 AD 3.1g, 20mm RIC VII 43 CONSTANTINE I AE Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS PF AVG; Laureate, cuirassed bust right REVERSE: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol standing slightly left left, radiate, nude but for cloak over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand commanding the sun to rise, globe in left hand, T - F divided across field, PTR in ex Struck at Treveri 310-313 AD 4.4g, 25mm RIC VI Treveri 872, p. 227 Ex JAZ CONSTANTINE I AE3 OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: SOL INVICTO COMITI, Sol, radiate, standing left, raising right hand, globe in left, chlamys across shoulder Struck at Trier 313-15 AD 3.78 g, 18-19 mm RIC VII Trier 42
Here's one with Sol holding Victory on the globe: Rome mint, A.D. 316 RIC 49 (var.) Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: SOLI INV-I-CT COM D N - Sol raising right hand, holding Victory on globe in left RT in exergue; star in left field, dash in right 20 x 18 mm, 3.0 g. Are you looking for different legends, such as these? London mint, A.D. 310-312 RIC 153 Obv: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: COMITI AVGG NN - Sol, with whip and globe PLN in exergue; star in right field 24 x 22 mm, 4.4 g. Rome mint, A.D. 317 RIC 80 Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: CLARITAS RE-PVBLICAE - Sol, advancing left, raising right hand and holding whip in left RQ in exergue; A in left field 21 x 18 mm, 2.7 g.
While completely outside your area of interest, I would appreciate hearing if anyone reports a coin that is a reverse die link to my coin below either before or after the clash. I would like to hear of any die clash on this RT type since it is obviously unlikely that another would show up with the doublestriking here that might make die ID harder.
Yes, I think they are much more common for his sons. I had one for Constantine II for many years. When I finally saw one for Constantine I, I snatched it up right away.
Yes, after seeing yours I checked around VCoins and a few other places. Did not see one listed. RIC rarity ranges from R3 to R5. In this case, I think RIC is right. Pretty darn rare.
The CLARITAS was only the second example from Rome that I have sold in the last few years...one example from London also.
That's a fascinating project! Do you plan to eventually publish the type catalogue (online or in print), or is this simply for your private research? All of my Sol Constantines are the commen type, yet they show and interesting variety of bust types and control marks: Constantine the Great, Roman Empire, AE2, 312–313 AD, London mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol, radiate, chlamys draped across r. shoulder, standing l., raising r. hand and holding up globe in l. hand; in field l., star; in exergue, PLN. 23mm, 2.77g. Ref: RIC VI Londinium 280. Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE3, 312–313 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol, chlamys draped over l. shoulder, standing l., raising r. hand and holding globe in l. hand. 20mm, 2.96g. Ref: RIC VI Rom 323a. Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE3, 313 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r, Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol, radiate, chlamys draped across r. shoulder, standing l., raising r. hand and holding globe in l. hand; in fields, R–F. 19.5mm, 3.41g. Ref: RIC VII Rome 2. Constantine the Great, Roman Empire, AE2, 316 AD, London mint. Obv: CONSTANTINVS P AVG; bust of Constantine I, laureate, cuirassed, r. Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol standing l., radiate, chlamys draped across r. shoulder, raising r. hand and holding up globe in l. hand; in fields, S–P; in exergue, MSL. 20.5mm, 3.06g. Ref: RIC VII Londinium 76.
Those are all wonderful examples. I like how each mint has a unique approach, especially London. I am writing up the project. Nothing like a comprehensive catalog. Just a discussion of the variety of types and their contexts. It might find a published home one day. It might not. But I have learned a lot in the process.
Although this one is for Licinius, there are Constantine coin from London with the same reverse, with the legend COMITI AA VV GG, contemporary with the above COMITI AVGG NN issue. Quite rare though, and I've not managed to find one for sale yet.
Also check out the London mint coins with Sol riding a quadriga towards the viewer. Superb but again quite rare! RIC 81-84, or LMCC 8.07.027-.032 are the references for these issues.
Yes. My fourth coin above is a London issue like your Licinius. But I don’t think I have one with the first legend you referenced.
Ostia mint A.D.316, RIC 49 Obv. IMP C CONSTANTINUS P F AVG Rev. SOLIIN-VI-CTOCOMITI Sol, radiate, standing left, raising right hand, globe close to body, chlamys across shoulder MOSTP in exergue 3.69 gr 21 mm