my only ancient so far

Wellcome Adam

I think the next coin should be the other one commemerating the city of Rome ?

 

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Yeah I'll have to get one

 

The OP [original post] CONSTANTINOPOLIS type is historically significant. For a short article on the coin type see:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/CONSTANTINOPOLIS.html

For a longer article which includes related types, see:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html

There are about a dozen types closely connected to the founding of Constantinople (and numerous varieties of the two main types), so it makes a nice compact collecting theme.

Here is a rare Constantinopolis type:


16 mm.
Pax standing left holding branch and scepter
P R either side (PAX ROMANA?)
Struck c. 348 (just before the FEL TEMP REPARATIO reform coinage)
RIC VIII Rome 106 "r4" (only a few known to John Kent in 1981 when RIC VIII came out).

For more, see the longer version (above) of the site on the coins of the founding of Constantinople.

 

Lovely green highlights on that coin, @Valentinian !!

 

Great coin Adam, look forward to seeing your next acquisitions.

 

that's a very nice LRB esp. with that reverse. a fine 1st @Adam95. welcome to CT ancients.

 

Ya done good, sir!

Welcome to the dark side, Adam. Resistance is futile.

Erin

 

A Constantinopolis centenionalis - the terminology has changed. Technically, the pagan-reverse folles were retired as a denomination in favor of a new denomination - the centenionalis - of about the same size and weight as the follis, but eschewing all the typical gods and strictly sporting reverses with military and other secular themes, ca 319 AD.). Only Victory (who was well on the way to being co-opted as the Christian "angel") was retained out of the Greco/Roman Olympian mythic pantheon - all the other pagan gods and references were dropped. Then, in 330, in honor of the inauguration of Constantinople as the new administrative capital, an enormous emission of centenionales was created. This was partly to honor the new capital - CONSTANTINOPOLIS (and Rome - VRBS ROMA, so they didn't feel left out) and partly to fill the desperate need for vast new quantities of coin during an inflationary period. The very common (perhaps the most common coin type surviving from antiquity) GLORIA EXERCITVS Soldiers and standard(s) centenionales in the names of Constantine and all his surviving children as Caesars, as well as the scarcer issue in honor of Delmatius, belong to this same lengthy emission which ran from 330-337 with a weight reduction indicated by the change from two standards to a single standard between the soldiers ca 335/6.
Both the city commemorative types and the Gloria Ex reverses would also make appearances during the period 337-348 under Constantine's sons as Augusti.
Your first choice ancient coin is representative of a really crucial and pivotal point in the Roman Empire's history. Good luck with your further education and collection - and never hesitate to ask questions.

 

Great first coin!! Just recently bought my first ancient too, so I know the feeling... Just recently bought 2 more, but they're not for me. I thought they'd make good back to school gifts for my niece and nephew.

 

A and B can be a little hard to distinguish in the 'handwriting' of the day. I have a B with more of the letter on flan. We do not have the 'same' coin since mine is from the issue with dots flanking the mintmark letters. There are many variations.


One good thing about having your first ancient is that you have about a million perfectly reasonable choices for your second coin. When you have a few thousand coins you may need to put in more thought about what your collection 'needs' but now all you really need to do is find something you like. I am not joking about some people having a few thousand coins. You have been warned about the addictive part of our hobby.

 

Welcome @Adam95 , that's a great start!

You never forget your first! Here's my good ol' Arcadius.

 

Very nice coin to start with I love the winged victory's

 

Very ice coin,sharp reverse.congrats !

 

Thank you all, getting really into ancients now just love the designs and the history behind them. Slowly moving away from world coins ha think i may have found what I'm really interested in.