For me, a big part of collecting ancients is patience. I have been looking for some types for decades; so a mere five weeks wait for this one in the post was no problem. This coin has full borders, though the obverse is touching the flan at the bottom. The toned silvering is mainly inside the border and gives the coin a neat cameo like effect. Severus II A.D. 305- 306 27x31mm 10.4g FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAES; Laureate head right. SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H in left field. In ex. Γ RIC VI Carthage 40a http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/Carthage/
I blundered into a Carthage mint product from around the same era in an eBay lot, not nearly as pretty as that lovely OP: Maximianus Æ Post-Reform Radiate (c. 294-303 A.D.) Carthage Mint IMP C MAXIMIAN[VS P F AVG] radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right VOT X[•?]X FK (Felix Karthage) in three lines within wreath RIC VI Carthage 37b (2.91 grams / 20 x 17 mm)
One of his coins is nice to get in any shape. To find one from Carthage in that condition is pretty great.
Superb coin! I love the Carthage types, but they are tough to find silvered. My first Severus II was the same type, just been around the block a little more!
Beautiful coin, Victor. Severus II (305 - 307 A.D.) Æ Follis O:SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; altar left, star right: PLC in exeergue. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint 8.83g 29mm RIC VI 193 Ex CNG Electric Auction, Lot 372, 1/10/2008 Ex. Gordon S. Perry Collection
Very nice details on the reverse Carthage figure. My only coins of Severus II, quarter follis and antoninian:
Severus II as Caesar, 1 May 305 - 25 July 306 28 mm. RIC VI Carthage 40a (same type as the coin in the original post) Bought in 1999 off the Mike Vosper website.
not Severus, but I just picked this piece up because I am drinking and Constantius so looks like John Belushi with the arched eyebrow...Brothers from a different mother so I invited John Belushi to represent he's giving some stink eye to Constantius so yeah...he didn't completely agree, but admitted there were similarities
That's a great find! I do have Constantius folles from Carthage with SALVIS reverses. One of the FEL KART varieties and one of the rarer AVCTA KART varieties. I really love the ragged edges of the coins coming out of Carthage. Nice character. Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 299 - 303 A.D., Carthage Mint, null Officina 9.75g, 28.5mm, 12H Obverse: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthage, wearing long robe, standing front, head left, holding fruits in both hands Exergue: -/-//Γ Provenance: Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 456, Lot 751 (part of) Reference: RIC VI Carthage 32a Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis Old Picture: New Picture: 298 - 299 A.D., Carthage Mint, 3rd Officina 8.21g, 28.0mm, 6H Obverse: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS AVCTA KART, Carthage, wearing long robe, standing front, head left, holding fruits in both hands Exergue: -/-//Γ Provenance: Ex. Budgies-Beak eBay 2017 Reference: RIC VI Carthage 28a
I've got the same RIC number with an unusual plaited laurel tie running across the shoulder. He's also got a bit of the fierce eyebrow going on.
I think the OP is the prettiest Imperial coin that I've ever seen from the Carthage mint. Congratulations on a beautiful new acquisition, Victor.
Thank you Glenn...I completely agree. Though I only have about 20 examples, this one is easily my favorite.
It is my understanding that the flans of these tetrarchic-era Alexandrian nummi were sand cast--that is, the melted metal was poured into molds made of hardened sand to make the flans. Many of these nummi are, like yours, on flans larger than the die and have complete rings around the obverse and reverse. Unlike yours, however, my example retains the graininess around the edges of both sides caused by the sand-casting, which detracts from the appearance. My example is much more typical of this issue: Constantine I ("the Great"), A.D. 307-337 AE nummus Carthage mint, A.D. 306 RIC 51c Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES Rev: SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART - Carthago, in long robe, standing, facing left, holding fruit in both hands Γ in exergue; H in left field 27 mm, 11.0 g.
Ah, that makes sense! Although, I think it adds to the appearance rather than detracts. It is evidence of a different type of flan preparation.
I only have a couple of items even vaguely relevant to the thread....both with the typical ragged flans Constantine as Caesar Maxentius as Caesar
Wow, what a fantastic score, @Victor_Clark! I particularly like the generous flan and artistic depiction of Carthage.