Scarce Florian from Serdica

Despite his very short reign, Florian issued a great deal of coins. This one is of particular interest because of a little feature that might escape on first sight:


FLORIAN AE20mm 2.99g (aVF, chipped edges, encrustations)

AV: IMP C M AN FLORIANVS PIVS F AVG; radiate, cuirassed and draped with paludamentum bust r.

REV: PROVIDEN DEOR; Fides stg. r., holding standard in each hand, facing Sol stg. l., r. hand raised and holding globe in l. hand; * in middle field.

EXE: B

REF: LV 2927, RIC V-1 113, RIC Online #4507 very rare, only 2specs recorded, 2nd issue of the 2nd officina at the mint of Serdica, August 276AD.

Quite rare issue with an interesting obv. legend ending in PIVS F AVG instead of the usual P F AVG.

 

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Sweet new Florian addition, seth ... I always love seeing Sol making an appearance!! (maybe because it's always so fricken cold up here?!!)

anyway ... I only have one Florian example (but it's pretty sweet) ...

Florianus Antoninianus
276 AD
Diameter: 24 mm
Weight: 4.2 grams
Obverse: IMP CM ANN FLORIANVS AVG; draped, cuirassed and radiate bust right
Rverse: PROV-VIDEN D-EOR /KA G; Providentia holding two standards and Sol holding globe, standing vis-a-vis, star between them
Reference: RIC 113
Other: Rare legend

 

Steve your coin is BNC p.408 and RIC Temp #4484 and a very nice example as such

 

Ummm? => RIC 113 is incorrect? (as always, I merely use the seller's crib-notes)



... the dude I bought it from was German and he quoted "rare legend" => Antoniniani with full family name (in german its gentiliz, cant find the proper english translation)

... sorry, it's all I've got

 

Most likely, as far as RIC V-1 goes, your coin is a variant of RIC 111.

 

Nice coins, both of you. Here is my only example:

FLORIANUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right presenting wreath to Florian standing left. Q in ex.
Struck at Cyzicus, 276 AD
2.9g, 21mm
RIC 116q

 

Thanks for you help, seth-dawg (I will jot your comments down in my notes)



... cool addition, Bing (it's got a piece missin' ... kinda like a begger was gnawing at it!! => it's got great street-history)

 

Nice find, he's one I still need.

 

Cool examples guys!!! And an interesting tidbit regarding the PF and PIVS F varieties.

My modest example was purchased a while ago on e-Bay from 'Holding History'....

 

=> my amazing example doesn't have any of those fricken letters (according to my German seller => I win!!)

 

My copy of RIC V reads PIVS P AVG rather than PIVS F AVG for #113 but perhaps this is a typo since F is what makes sense here. However both of the online examples look a lot like P so it will take some really clear examples to clear that up. I might add that Cohen 73 also reads it as a P. While RIC is the 'standard reference' the online, the online 'temp' listing is 1000% better in every regard except that it only covers V-1 and leave V-2 for another day (or decade???). Steve' coins is definitely one of the RIC 111 varieties.

Mine? It spells out Annius which should make it #4469

 

Thanks for the help, fellas .... I made an effort and looked it up myself

Bust = 6
Obverse = 10 (IMP FLORIANVS AVG)
Reverse = 35
Type = 40

=> and sure enough there it was listed as RIC Vi 111



I'm not sure if my type is rare, or not (I'm always a bit confused with this part of our hobby => how do we know this missing fact?)

 

There are 15 specs recorded in RIC Temp - http://www.ric.mom.fr/en/coin/4484 - so depending on how you define rarity you might make a guess.
I'd say that a spec in that condition is most likely scarce and attractive to potential collectors.

 

Sweet coin seth, i need to get a Florianus too!

 

Here is a Florian I'm getting next month for a decent price. I have not attributed the coin yet.

 

I've purchased more than a few coins from Holding History Coins.

 

Same here.

 

I have a few Florians, primarily Lugdunum, generally common varieties. Here are a couple:-

Florian Antoninianus
Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Emperor advancing right, holding a shield and spear, treading down captive.
Minted in Lugdunum (IIII in exe) Emission 3 Officina 4, from September to October A.D. 276
Reference:– Cohen 107. Bastien 150. RIC 16 Bust type C




Obv:– IMP C M AN FLORIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– PACATOR ORBIS, Sol running left, holding up right hand, whip in left
Minted in Lugdunum (//III) Emission 3 Officina 3. August A.D. 276
Reference:– RIC 7 Bust type F. Cohen 46. Bastien 137

 

Common? Perhaps, but very nice Martin.

 

The one I'm going to get apparently is not so common. I saw one in slightly higher grade than mine for over $200. I'm sure it's been sitting at that shop for quite awhile.