I suspect modern eye see a soldier leading a child but ancient eye accepted the larger figure as just more powerful than the small one. Someone might do a census on this thread and see if we have shown all of the mints that issued the type. We must be getting close.
I see it as the soldier leading a barbarian out of barbarism and into civilization (the Roman Empire). That being said its a type I still need for my collection.
Not letting time pass, I went to eBay and found this Arles hut completing my set if you count just mints. Constans struck huts from 13 mints; Constantius II from 7. I now have the 13 mints but lack one Constans and two Constantius to have the set. This purchase is the result of this thread since I wold not have realized I needed that Arles without it. The coin arrived today while I was at the coin show but look which coin I photographed first.
Congratulations on completing the set Doug. The coin looks good on the obverse, but outstanding on the reverse. Nice tree.
All are really wonderful examples.....Congrats Doug. And Martin has some truly gorgeous types which make me want to go bidding at auction again--- Dammit!!! LOL
Just added a cheap Constans from Aquileia to my collection. Tree is similar to the Constantius example shown by Doug above.
Similar? Maybe but Aquileia leaves are more slender and Arles rounded. Below is a copy from my earlier post of a Constantius which matches your Constans well. My Constans of Aquileia is second shop and a little different. It may be closer to Arles but there still is a consistent difference in the diagonal strokes on the hut and the horizontal ribs on the Arles tree trunk. I wonder if we had a hundred photos of reverse only, how many we could name by mint correctly.
I have added another couple of Constans versions. Firstly Thessalonica Constans - AE2 Obv:- D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left, globe in right hand. Rev:- FEL TEMP REPAR-ATIO, Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points downwards, between the soldier's legs. Minted in Thessalonica; (//TESB), A.D. 348-350 A.D. Reference:– RIC VIII Thessalonica 118; LRBC 1636
And Cyzicus... Constans - AE2 Obv:- D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left, globe in right hand. Rev:- FEL TEMP REPA-RATIO, Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points downwards, between the soldier's legs. Minted in Cyzicus; (//*SMKD), A.D. 348-350 A.D. Reference:– RIC VIII Cyzicus 77
And Constantinople... Constans - AE2 Obv:- D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG, Pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left, globe in right hand. Rev:- FEL TEMP REPA-RATIO, Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points downwards, between the soldier's legs. Minted in Constantinople; (//CONSI*), A.D. 348-350 A.D. Reference:– RIC VIII Constantinople 88; LRBC 2014
Martin => you're continually rockin' it!! Yup, every time that you post one of these coin-types, I have a knee-jerk reaction to go looking for a cool example ..... but your hut-coin-feeding-hole must be way sweeter than mine? Congrats => you are one of my favourite coin-gurus!! (you are very, very consistant!!) => please keep 'em coming!!
The trees over the "hut" are supposedly different at different mints. Okay, here is a hut. What is its mint? (I'll show it after a few guesses.)