I need help identifying this coin. I think its a Constantine II but I don't know which one it is. I've looked on different sites but could never find the face that matched. I hope the pics of the face are good enough. Thanks
It's actually the more famous Constantine I. Full attribution: Constantine I Antioch mint RIC VII Antioch 63 Coin struck AD 329-330 O: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, laureate bust right R: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, a "campgate" with 6 layers and 2 turrets. SMANTB in exergue During this period, you shouldn't worry much about the faces. They had become stylized enough where often the differences are more due to how the engraver happened to carve the die than they are who is supposed to be depicted. What you need to look for are primarily the legend, but also the details like what the emperor is wearing and what's on the reverse. As for the "campgate," I left that in quotes due to the fact that while that's what it's referred to conventionally, but what is actually depicted is controversial. Some say that it's more likely to be a city gate or just a representation of city walls in general.
The campgate type dates to the time that Constantine II was Caesar so any coin with AVG at the end of the legend will be Constantine I (or Licinius I but I hope you ruled that out early). There are later coins with the two soldier one standard reverse that come with Constantine II as Augustus so you have to be a little more careful separating them but campgate coins of the kids will end in CAES, NOBC, CAESS or something indicating the lower rank they held until Constantine I died.
Thanks for your help. I'm still a little skeptical that it's actually Constantine I RIC VII 63. Here's a pic of what i found the Constantine I RIC VII 63 to be: If you look at my coin (first picture) and this coin, you should be able to see the bridge on the nose of my coin sticks out near the top. The one pictured above is like a straight slant. I'm not good with coins at all so I'm not sure if it makes that much of a difference. I use to collect coins a lot when I was a kid but not so much any more. If you need better pictures of the face let me know. I'll try to get some
Dies for ancient coins were each engraved by hand, so every individual engraver gave his own particular interpretation of the portrait. The catalog numbers are based (for this period, at least) on legend, mintmark, and other significant things.
Thanks Ardatirion. Makes sense since it was so long ago. So does anyone know how much this coin might be worth?
Seriously? Given the photo in a holder, I'd be interested in hearing how anyone could arrive at an appraisal. For a coin this common, eye appeal is everything.
