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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;thejewk, post: 5245065, member: 100136&quot;]I&#039;ve written previously about the coins issued at London between the years of 311-313AD under Constantine, featuring PLN in the exergue, and either a star in the right or left field.&nbsp; These coins of the third reduction, roughly 72 pieces to the Roman pound for a theoretical weight of 4.48g, with a 21-22mm beaded circle, are one of the highlights of the London mint in my opinion, due to the huge variety of types and combinations of varied busts, legends and diverse and historically interesting reverse types inextricably associated with Constantine&#039;s victory against Maxentius. </p><p><br /></p><p>During 313, there was a fourth reduction in the weight of the coinage at London, to roughly 96 pieces to the Roman pound for a theoretical weight of 3.36g, with a 19-20mm beaded circle. This weight would remain static for the remainder of the mint&#039;s existence, although the beaded circle diameter would curiously fluctuate up and down depending on the issue.</p><p><br /></p><p>One would expect a change of weight would coincide with a change in mint mark, but instead the */-//PLN was retained, possibly until 314AD, for a small issue.&nbsp; The vast majority of this issue is made up of SOLI INVICTO COMITI types for Constantine, a handful of GENIO POP ROM coins for Licinius, a figures seen less and less frequently at London from here on due to the coming civil wars between the two remaining Augusti.&nbsp; The only other type is a rare selection of MARTI CONSERVATORI types, all for Constantine, which I managed to get an example of this month.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1218295[/ATTACH] </p><p>LMCC 8.01.005 RIC 253</p><p>IMP CONSTANTINVS P AVG - Draped and cuirassed, laureate bust right</p><p>MARTI CONSERVATORI - Mars helmeted, in military dress, standing right, head right, right hand resting on reversed spear, left on shield</p><p>*/-//PLN</p><p>3.19g, 21mm</p><p>313-314AD</p><p><br /></p><p>These issues can be a little confusing as a group due to the fact that RIC VII did not distinguish between these reduced coins, and their larger sized equivalents, but thankfully the distinction here is easy due to the fact that none of the larger types share this bust and legend combination.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is one example of the type, illustrated in LMCC, from the Waddington hoard and now in the British Museum, and then a few I&#039;ve managed to track to auction sales, including a beautiful (and expensive) example sold at Roma this year, and some misattributed and selling for a song.&nbsp; To be honest, I don&#039;t think rarity really counts for much in this example, because you can quite easily get a Constantine coin from London with a MARTI reverse if you want one, but I&#039;m pleased to add another variety to my * PLN sub collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>After this issue, things take a strange turn at London, and between 314-318AD, eleven further mint marks are used while very few very rare new reverse types are added.&nbsp; Also this period sees Licinius&#039; defeat and complete disappearance from the coinage, and the appearance of Constantine&#039;s sons.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please share your coins featuring Mars, or anything else you feel like.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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