Interesting late roman bronze from Claudius II Gothicus

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How big is too big? I'll say where the last spike is completely behind the head.

 

i just wonder if there is a reason why you almost never see older imperial radiate crowns that are two big for the heads...like a hadrian or nero. but for 3rd century coins it seems like the giganto crowns are on about every 3rd coin is see.

curious if they were trying to be more imitative of some of the sol depictions or something...just make the crown larger so it spreads out more?

 

This one, although a bit later, looks like it was struck using a die carved by the same celator or at least one of earlier Smyrna tradition like the one in the OP :


AURELIAN AE21mm 3.68g billon Antoninian pre-reform (aVF, flat strike areas, light-brown chocolaty patina)

AV: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; radiate cuirassed bust r.

REV: FIDES MILITVM; Emperor in military dress stg. r., holding short sceptre in l. hand, receiving a globe from Jupiter stg. l., holding long sceptre in l. hand.

EXE: C * P, Cyzicus mint.

REF: RIC V-1 344, 272AD. RIC considers this issue C (common).

The adnotated RIC V Online records 11 specimens in the following distribution: 4 in La Venera Hoard (which would make it a scarce issue), 2 in Vienna, and 1 in each London, Budapest, Munich, Oxford and Paris, so it seems that it is a quite scarce issue - a pre-reform antoninian 1st phase of the 6th issue of Cyzicus 1st officina minted in summer-autumn 272AD, cf RIC Online #2953

 

I've just finished re-imaging all my Aurelian coins. This exercise has re-ignited my interest in Aurelian coins. Yours doesn't help douse that interest. Very interesting Seth.

 

Yes, Aurelian has some very nice types and also interesting ones. I'm more interested in Claudius II though and especially so in his Cyzicus types which I find particularly elegant in design and size.

 

Hi. I believe this coin of Aurelian is particular. The reverse reads Restitutor Bis, with an exergue of XXI, but the center field down or officina is VI. I couldn't find a match. The coin weighs 3.47 g. Thank you for your comment.

 

Not Restitutor Bis, RESTITVT ORBIS. Sometimes the Romans broke up the words in odd ways.

 

Beat me to it.

 

RIC V-1, 386 Antioch var (officina); Syria Hoard I, 31; listed as common

 

I like to think the guys at the mint were aware of the joke that the OR completed one word and started the other. This one repeated the OR so everything is clear.

 

Love the portrait on that one as well Doug. He could poke your eye out with that nose.

 

This is my only Aurelian example => the long-necked Aurelian

Aurelian. Æ Silvered Antoninianus
272-274 AD
Cyzicus mint
diameter: 22 mm
weight: 3.70 gm
Obverse: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right
Reverse: RESTI TVTO RBIS, woman standing right, presenting wreath to Aurelian standing opposite, A in exergue