Picked up at my LCS. Attribution has been a tough one for me. All I'm aware of is it is Roman Bronze and I think it is a late issue. It has been fun researching this. Comments and questions welcome
Awesome. Hint: these late obverse legends typically begin with DN (Dominus Noster, or “Our Lord.”) The emperor’s name will begin with the third letter.
Welcome to good times! You could say that emperor was not a "Val"iant fellow. Though his brother sometimes was called great. Ps; Your reverse appears to be upside down.
Very nice! Looks like the obverse says, DN VALENS PF AUG. Nice advancing Victory reverse...can't read the mint though...
@Gavin Richardson @Severus Alexander @Ryro @ValiantKnight I believe I have found my coin on wildwinds (copied and pasted attribution) Valens AE 3, Cyzicus. AD 364-378. DN VALENS PF AVG, pearl--diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm. Mintmark SMK Gamma. RIC IX Cyzicus 11b; Cohen 47.
What will also help you to get the precise attribution is to compare the size and weight of your coin with other similar examples.
I believe you have the emperor and reverse type correct. Good work. That mintmark seems to be awfully long for Cyzicus. Are you confident in those letters? I just can’t tell from the photos.
Lots of these were struck at Siscia. Constantinople and Rome are also represented pretty well. Cyzicus seems scarce for this issue; i’m not sure they were struck there at all, although I am no expert on these types. @Valentinian is.
Apparently Cyzicus did issue these. Warren has a page on the types: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/type6i.html
I bet it’s the first officina of Aquileia. I’m seeing SMAQP. SM=Sacra Moneta. AQ=Aquileia. P=Primus, or first workshop of that mint. But admittedly hard to tell from the photo.