It is sometimes amazing how things work out in coin collecting. I have been seeking nice specimens of this coinage for many years without success. Lo and behold, I came across two at the same time (but from different sources), both with much original silvering! Not only that, they are "twins" in the series: 17a (Constantius) and 17b (Galerius) -- the two Caesars. Talk about a lucky day! RIC Volume VI (Lugdunum), Group I, (iv), Class I, No. 14-21, c. 296, 10.5-8.75 gm, 28/26 mm Plain, truncated, obverse busts -- no mint marks Struck in the names of Diocletian & Maximian as Augusti and Galerius & Constantius as Caesars. FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C ............................ GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI CONSTANTIUS (RIC) RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum (Lyons), No. 17a C VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB C ............................ GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI GALERIUS (RIC) RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum (Lyons), No. 17b In his introductory notes accompanying the Londinium and Lugdunum sections of RIC Volume VI, Sutherland agrees with Bastien in his assertion that this series of unmarked "reformed" folles was produced at a Boulogne Mint by Lugdenese workers in preparation for the invasion of Britain and that Constantius subsequently carried these coins to Britain when he undertook the invasion in 296. Sutherland had originally accepted this series as being minted in London -- hence the somewhat messy and confusing conspectus for Londinium in RIC VI -- Class I is missing from Group I although Class II and Class III are included. Class I is in the Lugdunum conspectus -- the coins discussed here. I made up this web page that offers additional information.
Glad you were able to find these coins which you had been looking for. Yes, sometimes it works that way in coin collecting. Since Constantius took this coinage with him to Britain, it is likely that some have been found there?
Yes, large numbers according to Sutherland in RIC, Volume VI. BTW, I wish to thank my fellow Roman coins of the London Mint enthusiast and noted numismatist, Lee Toone, for granting me permission to quote his following excellent contribution: "Bastien, in an annexe to a later work, Le Monnayage de L'Atelier de Lyons (Wetteren, 1980) - Annexe Atelier Continental Sans Marque pp.125-128 and Plate LXIX revisits this issue. He reaffirms his view that these coins were minted at an unknown continental mint prior to the invasion and concludes that, in reality, there are only four types RIC 14a, 14b, 17a and 17b. The others listed under Lyons by Sutherland are erroneous, either unofficial, lightly struck LA or LB coins or unmarked London coins. He goes on to catalogue these four types each with two different versions; the first 'set' with large heads ('effigies larges') and the second with small heads ('petites effigies'). It would appear that your Constantius is a large head variety and your Galerius is a small head variety."
I have had a devil of a time finding specimens, Ardatirion, but I will keep my eye out and let you know if I come across any. Thanks. James
Following is my personal Intermediate Group attribution scheme (brown text) integrated into the RIC scheme. I imagine we will each individually have to rely on our own schemes and textual descriptions to attribute the coins we identify as belonging to the London Mint Intermediate Group (Bastien) until a consensus is somehow reached. Of course, RIC itself can only be changed by the Publisher. Group I folles LON mint mark and plain busts Intermediate Group - unmarked with Lugdunum style busts and London style lettering .......... (a) plain busts .......... (b) cuirassed busts unmarked with cuirassed busts ......... (a) With small heads on tall necks ......... (b) With larger, elongated heads on shorter necks unmarked with large, spread busts James
I posted the following coin photo earlier -- here it is re-attributed: James C VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB C ............................ GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI GALERIUS Intermediate Group (a) attribution (my scheme): RIC VI (Lon), unlisted 14b (var) Originally attributed as RIC VI, (Lugdunum), 17b
That's quite a trick, because Licinius didn't come into power until twelve years after these coins were struck!
