Fractional folles, sometimes called "quinarii," were minted c. 290 to c. 326. Most have vota types. There are over 200 varieties, but most varieties are very rare and, in total, they are rare. Many are remarkably small at c. 14-13 mm and others are larger at c. 18-17 mm. Here is one of Constantine as Caesar. 18-17 mm. 1.98 grams. FL VAL CONSTANTINVS N C VO/TIS/X in wreath. Struck as Caesar, summer 307. RIC Trier 750. Sear IV 15576. Zschucke 7.13. I have a web page on fractions: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/VOTA/fractions.html This coin was added to it this week. Show us some fractions!
Here's the smaller version. It ain't a beauty like some on your page, but I'm pleased to have it! Trier RIC VI 912, VOT / X / MVL / XX. 14mm, 1.01g. A few of these have appeared lately as a collection is gradually sold off. ("The Tetrarchy Collection." Anybody know who that is?)
That's a different issue, from much later, for Constans and Constantius II, c.347-8. No, they are very-low-value coins made of copper.
I asked my dog what he thought of the condition of this coin . . . . . . and he said: "Rough, rough, rough!" Constantine I ("the Great") 1/4 quarter nummus Treveri (Trier) mint, A.D. 307-308 RIC 791 Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: VOT/X/AVG/N, within wreath No mint mark 13 mm, 0.8 g.
My AE Quinarii from this Era are not Votive... Do you know more about these, @Valentinian ? (I have King's Quinarius book, but it is not near me now...) Constantius I Chlorus 293-306 AD Bronze Quinarius (16 mm ; 1.41 gm) Thesalonika mint 317-318 AD Obv: DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO PRINCIPI ; Laureate, bearded, and veiled head, right Rev: REQVIES OPTIMORVM MERITORVM ; Constantius seated left on curule chair raising right hand and holding scepter. Mintmark : .TS.B. RIC vol VII #25 Thesalonika (R5) Ex: Vaughn RI Allectus 293-296 AE Quinarius London Virtus Galley AE17 London, CE 294-296 16.9 x 18.2 mm 2.31 grams. Radiate head of Allectus right, with IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG around Galley left with VIRTVS AVG around, the mint mark QL below SEAR 13870. RIC 55. Ex: Calgary Coins
Wow, something else to learn! Isn`t this hobby amazing. So am I right in thinking that generally Fractions are small (AE 12-14mm), from Trier mint and mainly VOTIS reverses? So, I have an AE 18mm Constantine I, Trier mint, Reverse with BEAT TRANQVILLITAS, Altar inscribed with VO-TIS XX - This wouldn`t be a Fraction, correct?
The above coin is not a fraction, it's a regular nummus, a.k.a. follis. But there were other fractions issued during Constantine's reign. Here's an example of a half nummus from Rome: Rome mint, A.D. 312-313 RIC 356 Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG Rev: PACI P-ERPET - Pax, standing facing, head left, holding branch and standard RQ in exergue; XII in left field 19 x 16 mm, 2.0 g. There were others, too. I'm sure other members have fractions to show JulesUK. Let's see them, everyone.
Constantine has a quite a few types smaller than a follis. Constantine I Rome mint 313 AD AE 1/4 Follis Obvs: IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Bare head facing right. Revs: SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS, Owl standing left on altar, shield, spear and helmet around. RT 14mm, 1.20g RIC HC V 178
Correct. There are more unusual denominations in that era than you might first think from looking a many coins from Diocletian through Constantine. The folles and later AE3's are so common that the scarcer denominations can be overlooked. @gsimonel and @David@PCC showed nice later fractions of Constantine which do not belong to the series of the OP coin. One obvious difference is that the fractions from Trier (and a few other mints) do not have mint marks and are mostly vota types. After Diocletian's coin reform of c. 294 there were more than a dozen mints issuing the same very common types: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI and later, SACRA MONETA AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR. But it was not long before some mints distinguished themselves with different types and unusual denominations, such as the so-called quarter follis, minted only at Siscia. The "fractions" like the OP coin were formerly attributed almost entirely to Trier, but there is find-spot evidence they were minted (in very low numbers) at other mints too. Also, @Alegandron showed coins sometimes called "quinarii" that are not of the usual denominations. There is some question about what they should be named. The Allectus has a "Q" on it. Does that make it a quinarius? King's book on Roman Quinarii does not include it and the type and fabric have little in common with other quinarii. So, what does the "Q"mean? Who knows? I think it is great fun to pick up a coin which is different. Here is a fraction of Crispus: Crispus. 16 mm. 2.22 grams. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES VOT/V/CAESS/NN Zschucke 14.18, the last issue. He says it is for July 25, 320 and calls this fraction "1/4". RIC VII Trier 339 "r5" "321-2".
