Lot of 6 Romans

I acquired a lot of six Romans recently, so I’ll post them one-a-day in this thread. These are fairly common issues, but a few coins have numismatic interest beyond their lack of aesthetic appeal and/or rarity. The first is Gallienus...

1. Gallienus, c. 218 - 268
AE Antoninianus, Rome mint, 268 AD
Obv.: GALLIENVS AVG; Radiate bust right
Rev.: P M TR P XVI COS VII; Emperor standing left, holding globe and sceptre
Reference: RIC V(a) Gallienus Sole Rule 156 (p. 144)

The first thing I liked about this scrappy coin was the artistically-engraved, life-like portrait. Everything else about it is typical of the lack of quality control in the late coinage of Gallienus: a poorly-trimmed flan and a weak, off-center strike. But the portrait is one of the finest I’ve seen on any of the antoniniani of Gallienus, and oddly incongruent with the rest of the coin. Also, I don’t see any wear, so I grade it MS15.

The second interesting facet of this coin is that it’s the very last in the series of dated coins. TR P XVI COS VII dates it to 268, the year of the emperor’s death. Collectors are always cautioned not to take RIC rarity values as anything more than the analysis of a small sample, and that advice is usually given when someone thinks they have a rare and valuable coin. But in this case, RIC rates the coin as common - and yet, I can’t find any others. I’ve came across a few of the prior year with the legend TR P XV, but none from 268. If anyone has another example, I’d like to see it. (They’re probably all sitting in junk bins.)

 

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Very appropriate use of Doug's grading system

You're right about that portrait! That master must've been very disappointed in his apprentices (assuming they did the rest of the work).

 

I agree with everything you say but particularly like the grading of MS15 which pretty much tells the story. It is a great portrait and a great example of the coinage of a period that was, to put it kindly, not so great. I have a TRP XV coin but no XVI and agree fully with your view on rarity and junk bins. Here is the sad fact. This coin is beneath the notice of 90% of the collecting establishment even though it may be one of the finest known of its type. I'd like to think that I would have bought the coin if I ran across it in a junk bin for $10 but I might have passed it up not realizing that the very bold TRP XVI makes the example quite collectible among those of us who can accept such things in our collections. I am always thrilled when a coin ends up in the hands of someone who can appreciate coins that have "numismatic interest beyond their lack of aesthetic appeal and/or rarity."

 

My favorite emperor. Great portrait & nice catch on the reverse legends. Even I admit I dont pay much attention to such things, especially when its "scraps" like these. Imperial silvers I tend to though.

Now would I want this in my collection even though it may be rare cause of the date & portrait? Probably not. I would still keep my good silver version.

 

I own 20 Gallienus coins, and none of them have a portrait near as nice as this coin. I would gladly make this my 21st Gallienus.

 

Great obverse, love the details...

 

The last two posts mystify me. If any emperor is 'my favorite' I would have to want more than one coin showing the diversity of his coinage. In the case of Gallienus, we have several mints tracking the decline from silver looking to garbage not to mention all the special varieties so having 20 of his coins is in no way excessive. Gallienus would be hard to represent with just one coin. There is no such thing as a 'typical' Gallienus coin.

 

To each their own Doug. I am more then happy to have just my one coin. There has been a few I have thought about adding of his but Gallienus isnt someone I want to specialize in like you do with Sept. S.. That shouldnt mean he cant be a favorite of mine.

Lucilla isnt my absolute favorite empress just because I chose to have her as my avatar & focus on her coinage for the time being. I just find her appealing to collect.

 

Very nice condition on the portrait! At my introductory level of ancient coins, I don't pick-up on the nuances of dating, rarity, etc. I just like the portrait side because it is razor sharp. If I saw this obverse with one of the zoo creatures on the reverse, I would be all over the coin. Very nice coin & I look forward to the next five.

 

I'm not sure why my post might mystify you Doug. I don't specialize in Gallienus coins, but yet I still own 20 of his coins. I would own another 20 or 200 if I find they peak my interest. JA's coin is just one of those, especially with such a nice portrait.

 

I've always thought this was an interesting portrait of Gallienus (yes my coin):



I've been told it resembles his father Valerian, which would make some sense since this was struck during Gallienus's and Valerian's joint reign.

 

VK, at a glance my first thought was Philip the Arab!

 

I agree that it looks alot like Valerian.

 

Nice one!

 

nothin' to add, but dang...that is a sweet obverse bust.

 

Thanks for all the replies, friends, much appreciated. Today’s offering is very common, but it has a nice strike with very smooth surfaces and a glossy dark-green patina - just a very nice coin.

2. Constantius II
AE Follis, 16mm. 2.25g, 12h; Siscia mint, 330-333
Obv.: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; laureate,‭ ‬draped,‭ ‬and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS; Two soldiers standing, facing one another, spear in outer hand, inner hand on shield resting on ground; between them two standards
Reference: RIC VII Siscia 219 (p. 453)

My understanding of these issues is that two standards on the reverse indicated a higher denomination than one standard. These were some of the last tiny bronzes minted before the reforms of 348 that established the FEL TEMP REPARATIO series of centenionali as the smallest Roman denomination.



This two-standard coin, however, is only nominally larger than one of my one-standard coins of the same period, by 1mm and a quarter of a gram. Obviously the size of the coins didn’t much matter to differentiate the denominations.

 

I know these are common, but i never get tried seeing a great example, very nice coin JA...here's mine..different mint...

 

Very nice, Eng. I had that coin's little brother (one standard), recently traded. The Antioch issues sometimes exhibit very attractive desert patinas. The soldiers also jut their hip out - looks like they're getting ready to boogie. I wonder if that's a characteristic of the Antioch style.

 

Nice coins. Here is my offering from the Nicomedia mint.


Constantius II (337 - 361 A.D.)
Æ3
O: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
R: GLORIA EXERCITVS, Two soldiers, holding spears, standing front, heads turned inward toward one standard between them. SMNA in ex.
Nicomedia
18.3mm
2.89g
RIC VII Nicomedia 200, R3

 

I like that they show the details of their belly button....very talented cutters.