Fun mintmark

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Valentinian, Jul 19, 2019.

  1. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    Byzantine coins have a wide variety of mintmarks. Here is one that is fun:

    SB208yr13n1968.jpg

    This is a large (33-32 mm) year 13 (XIII = 539/540) 20-nummia piece of Justinian (527-565). "K is the numeral for "20" in Greek, so the large K states the denomination. The mint is Cyzicus, which is also spelled Kyzicos, and its mintmark on the 40-nummia piece is KYZ. But here, with a large K already there, they decided to complete the mintmark with "YZ" smaller below. That's a cute way to give the mintmark!

    Sear 208, year 13. 33-32 mm. 9.58 grams.

    Show us an interesting mintmark!
     
    PeteB, Finn235, Curtisimo and 23 others like this.
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  3. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    Two birds with one stone! That engraver had better have gotten a bonus solidus for his ingenuity.

    Siscia mint-marks are always interesting to me. No idea why they include interesting symbols, like a sunrise, in the mark.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    Here's a nearly similar one to C.A.'s coin also from Siscia. But not Constantine, rather his son Crispus. If Art is Fun, then Fun is Art too.
    Crisp O  Ric 7  181 - E.jpg Crisp R Epsi    Siscia.jpg
     
  5. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    What a clever engraver! Very cool, V :).
     
  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

  7. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    My favorite is the Constantine eros mark from Rome. They come in two reverses and for five rulers.
    R EPW C officina (here gamma)
    The monogram EPW and C (sometimes the C is attached) is Greek eros (love) which translates into Latin AMOR which, spelled backwards is ROMA.
    Constantine I with Roma AETERNAE reverse
    rv4800b01550alg.jpg

    Licinius I /VOT XX
    ru4285bb2942.jpg

    Crispus
    rw5693bb3028.jpg

    Constantine II / VOT V
    rw5845bb0987.jpg

    I lack the Licinius II and need to update most get legible oficinae.
     
  8. Orange Julius

    Orange Julius Well-Known Member

    I love those instances of ancient personality that sometimes come out in coins. Great coin!

    Heres' a fun mint mark on a new-ish coin... an Aurelian with a Lion mint mark.
    AurleianRIC62.jpg
     
  9. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    The lion is definitely more fun but Aurelian also had a somewhat skinny 'whale'. rs2350b01982lga.jpg
     
  10. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    I also like the Constantine-era two captives mint marks from Lugdunum:
    [​IMG]
    Lugdunum (Lyons) mint, A.D. 320
    RIC 79 (var.)*
    Obv: CON-STANTINVS AVG
    Rev: VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP - Two Victories holding shield inscribed VOT/PR above altar
    P[2 captives]L in exergue
    19 mm, 3.2 g.
    *obverse inscription break
     
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