At least I think that they are interesting...your mileage will vary! also LRB = Late Roman bronze This coin was cast in brass/ orichalcum rather than the normal bronze, so I don't think it was ever intended to be used as a counterfeit coin; rather, since it was holed, I believe it was made for the sole purpose of use as a necklace. The obverse has a strange legend ending in FIL AVG. Shortly after the conference at Carnuntum in A.D. 308 and the elevation of Licinius to Augustus; a new title was seen on coinage for Maximinus and Constantine I which proclaimed that they were sons (filius) of Augusti. This was an attempt by Galerius to placate them; which failed as they both rejected the title. Constantine had already claimed the title of Augustus in A.D. 307 and Maximinus thought he deserved to be Augustus after the death of Severus. Only Eastern mints struck these types. In A.D. 310, Galerius finally recognized Constantine and Maximinus each as Augustus. Constantine I A.D. 308- 310 brass follis 23x24mm 5.6g FL VAL CONSTANTINVS FIL AVG; laureate head right with divergent ties. GENIO CAESARIS; Genius standing left, tower on head, loins draped, r. holding patera, l. cornucopiae; across fields K-P; A in right field. In ex. ALE RIC VI Alexandria 99b here is the normal bronze issue This coin is not listed in RIC, but should come after Lyons 134. It is Bastien 83 with 2 examples. Crispus A.D. 321 Ӕ nummus 18mm 3.0g CRIS-PVS NOB CAES, helmeted and cuirassed bust right, holding spear over shoulder and shield on arm. BEATA TRANQVILLITAS, Globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX; above three stars; C-R across fields. In ex. PLG RIC VII Lyon -- ; Bastien 83 In the mintmark of this coin, it looks like there might be a dot at the end, if so, it is unrecorded. I don't have it in hand yet, so I am not sure...maybe it is just some shmutz. The use of a dot for the DAFNE issue is not unprecedented, as a later emission had one. This coin also has the "eyes to Heavens" bust; which was written about after it was issued-- "How deeply his soul was impressed by the power of divine faith may be understood from the circumstance that he directed his likeness to be stamped on the golden coin of the empire with eyes uplifted as in the posture of prayer to God: and this money became current throughout the Roman world." (Eusebius IV.15) Constantine I A.D. 328 Ӕ nummus 19mm 2.9g CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG; head with rosette diademed, looking up to heavens. CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE; Victory seated l. on cippus, palm branch in left hand and laurel branch in right hand, looking r.; trophy at front, at the foot is a kneeling captive with head turned being spurned by Victory; S in left field. in ex. CONS [•] cf. RIC VII Constantinople 32 here is an example with a dot Constantine I A.D. 329 -330 20mm 3.5g CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG; rosette diademed, dr. and cuir. bust right. CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE; Victory seated l. on cippus, palm branch in left hand and laurel branch in right hand, looking r.; trophy at front, at the foot is a kneeling captive with head turned being spurned by Victory; B in left field. in ex. CONS• RIC VII Constantinople – The author of RIC, Patrick Bruun, mentions this coin in the footnotes-- "Some coins not with star but with dot in exergue, the dot most likely intended for a star." However, these coins are known from all the workshops and must be a separate issue after RIC VII Constantinople 38 here is a rarer campgate from Constantinople Constantius II A.D. 328 Ӕ nummus 18mm 2.8g FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS; campgate with two turrets and star between them, in left field S in ex. CONS✶ RIC VII Constantinople 40 and I got this posthumous Constantius I half follis from Rome as an upgrade Divo Constantius I A.D. 317- 318 Ӕ ½ follis 15mm 1.7g DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO PRINC; laureate and veiled head of Constantius I right. MEMORIAE AETERNAE, eagle standing right, head left. In ex. RS RIC VII Rome 111
