My First Constantine II Bronze. Some help on the altar type, please.

Recently got this Constantine II bronze (I think) - it was part of a lot, and in hand it was much better looking than I thought it would be. Some roughness and what might be called cabinet friction on the highlights, but pretty, I think. Never been a LRB collector, but I think I'm smitten.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody could help me with attribution. I think I am in the ballpark with RIC Lyons 76 or 77 based on Wildwinds, but I can't tell the difference. The RIC list of variations confuses me too, but just have the spreadsheet version. The altar on my example baffles me - is that a "V" inside of it, or just the back set of legs in a 3D perspective? Or something else?

Not trying to get other people to do my homework....okay, well, yes I am. I guess if anybody could steer me in the right direction, I'd be much obliged.




Constantine II, AE follis of Lyons. 17mm AD 320.
DN CONSTANTINO IVN NOB C, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP, two Victories standing facing each other, holding between them a shield inscribed VOT PR on an altar decorated (with a V?) Mintmark: two captives back to back. RIC VIILyons 76 or 77 ?

 

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Using Dane's spreadsheets, I make it as

Constantine II
DN CONSTANTINO IVN NOB C
LDC
VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP VOT PR
4b
plain 2 captives back to back
Lyons RIC VII Lyons 77
R5

 

The design on the altar has nothing to do with the RIC number. In fact, RIC simply says "altar of varying design":



What distinguishes RIC Lyon 76 from 77 is the bust type. Here's the listing from RIC:



76 has bust type B3, whereas 77 has bust type B4. Looking at the table of bust types ....



We see that the difference between the two types is that B3 is seen from the back and B4 is seen from the front.

Yours is seen from the front, and is therefore type B4. Therefore, your coin is RIC 77.

 

And it IS a very nice example of the type -- well-centered, nicely-patinated, and with fully-legible inscriptions.

 

this coin has a seen from the back bust type

 

I respectfully disagree; you're looking at the front of his chest here.

 

no, this coin is most definitely seen from back. If you are confused you can even look at the plate coin.

The term "seen from the back" is not literal, meaning you are not actually seeing the back.

I have also attached the examples from Wildwinds

note the differences between the first coin which is B4 and the second which is B3.

there are several ways to differentiate the busts, pay particular attention to the right shoulder (left as you are looking). There are several more diagnostic points, but I am not going to list them all here, it should be sufficient to just look at the two different bust types and notice the diferences. I have also attached a seen from back bust with some highlighted areas to note

Also in this case, seen from back types are much more common.

 

This has been very, very helpful. That "seen from back" description was confusing me too (though I forgot to mention it). I really appreciate the assistance.

 

It can be a tough one if you have not seen many examples, but there are actually more confusing bust types in RIC VII.

Years ago I made some pages to illustrate the bust types in RIC VII

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/busts/

 

It never ceases to amaze me how many 'variants' I am not even aware of LOL

 

I stand corrected and have been miscategorizing my LRBs for a long time. What the catalog means to say is "seen mostly from the front" and "seen from the front but less so."