I have a collection of some of the more common FEL TEMP REPARATIO types and amongst them is a range of the Galley types. I also have a general predeliction for the coinage of Lugdunum. As such I have a number of FEL TEMP types from Lugdunum. The style is quite distinctive as can be seen across a range of official types from the mint:- Constans - RIC VIII Lugdunum 82 Constantius - RIC VIII Lugdunum 102 Constans - RIC VIII Lugdunum 72 Constantius - RIC VIII Lugdunum 97 I also have a liking for contemporary imitatives especially when they are in good style. I was able to purchase three imitatives of Lugdunum Galley types. They are in varying degrees of stylistic quality but none is in the style of Lugdunum set out above. Coin 1:- Constans - AE2 - Barbarous imitiation Obv:– D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, Rosette diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor standing left on galley, holding phoenix on globe and labarum; Victory behind, steering galley; A in left field Imitates a coin minted in Lugdunum (//PLG) Reference:– Imitates RIC VIII Lugdunum 104 but with Phoenix on globe in place of Victory on globe Weight 4.73g. Maximum diameter 22.09 mm. Die orientation 180 degrees The style here is the most generic. The legends are all in good form and have not degraded to the IIIIIs that at normally indicitative of a barbarous imitation. The scale of the head of the emperor on the reverse id wrong, being far too large and it would appear that "Stickman" has replaced Victory steering the galley. Coin 2:- Constantius II - AE2 - Barbarous imitiation Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor standing left on galley, holding phoenix on globe and labarum; Victory behind, steering galley Imitates a coin minted in Lugdunum (//*PLG) Reference:– Imitates RIC VIII Lugdunum 75 which has *SLG Dot, or RIC VIII Lugdunum 76 which is Rosette diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right Weight 6.17g. Maximum diameter 23.69 mm. Die orientation 0 degrees Again the legends are well formed. The general engraving is well enough done but not in the style of the mint. This would be an unlisted variety if genuine. Coin 3:- Constantius II - AE2 - Barbarous imitiation Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev:– FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Emperor standing left on galley, holding phoenix on globe and labarum; Victory behind, steering galley Imitates a coin minted in Lugdunum (//PLG*) Reference:– Imitates RIC VIII Lugdunum 78 Weight 5.07g. Maximum diameter 24.47 mm. Die orientation 0 degrees Again the legends are well formed. The general engraving is well enough done but not in the style of the mint. This time it coyies a genuine type.
here's an unofficial example from the 1948 Freckenham hoard Constantius II A.D. 348- 350 21mm 5.0g D N CONSTAN-TIVS 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 [Chi-Rho]; in stern sits Victory, steering ship. In ex. SLG cf. RIC VIII Lyons 69
What a lovely example. Mine came with old collector's tags but their origin has been lost. Is anyone aware of any documentation available of the "Coleshill hoard"? Looking at Helvetica's lists these seem to closely match the description of some examples from that hoard and a comparison would be useful. Seaby, W. A. (1945). A Hoard of late Roman Coins found at Coleshill, Warwickshire. Trans Proc Birmingham Archaeol Soc 66. Vol 66, p. 170.
The Coleshill hoard is in The Chalfont Hoard and other Roman Coin Hoards (Coin Hoards from Roman Britian IX)
Got this one recently from a cheap coin box - it was $15 just couldn't let it go Not quite sure about the mint mark: Thrace, Heraclea, 351 – 355 AD, mint mark SMHA or SMHB (officina unclear, A or B) 15.36 x 15.91 mm 2.12 g RIC VIII Heraclea 90 D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG Bust of Constantius II, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right FEL TEMP - REPARATIO Soldier, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, advancing left, spearing fallen (Parthian) horseman with r. hand and wearing shield on l. arm; shield on ground to right; horseman wearing pointed cap, facing soldier, extending l. arm