Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
The Tetrarchies and the London Mint
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="Gavin Richardson, post: 2805593, member: 83956"][ATTACH=full]655305[/ATTACH] Okay, everyone is going to think that I’m making this up, but I swear it’s true.</p><p><br /></p><p>So this summer I’m recataloguing my collection and switching all coins from flips to trays (Lighthouse coin boxes.) If I have a specialty, it’s Constantine. When I arranged my Constantine trays, I left one spot open for a particular coin: a Constantine Genio Pop Rom from London. That’s the empty space you see in the top left corner. No lie—it’s been empty for months.</p><p><br /></p><p>I wanted to get this particular coin because, as I understand it, it’s among the first coins to announce Constantine as a major player on the world stage, with his father Constantius Chlorus just having died in July of 306.</p><p><br /></p><p>So I go to my mailbox today and, lo and behold, [USER=14873]@jamesicus[/USER] has sent me this very coin as a marvelous gift! He had no way of knowing that I had been saving a spot for it in my tray. Indeed, I had “bookmarked” a version of this coin at the old Hookmoor VCoins site before Hookmoor left VCoins. I just never pulled the trigger. And I’m glad I didn’t. Not only is this a coin I had been coveting, but it is in wonderful condition. It’s difficult to photograph because it’s quite dark and lustrous.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was struck sometime within a year of Constantius Chlorus’s death; RIC has ca. summer of 307. It depicts Constantine as Caesar even though Constantine initially flirted with his acclamation as Augustus. Perhaps this coin depicting him as Caesar was a way of showing Galerius that Constantine accepted his secondary position in the West—for now. I would also like to think that since Constantine was “Britain’s Emperor,” the London die engravers might have even seen the man face to face and thus given us a true portrait of him. Who knows.</p><p><br /></p><p>At any rate, what a nice surprise! And what great calligraphy too! Thanks, [USER=14873]@jamesicus[/USER], for your generosity. When I tell my students the story of Constantine’s rise to power, I will be using this coin to illustrate. And I’ll be sure to mention the lovely way I acquired it too.</p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine I, as Caesar</p><p>306-337 A.D.</p><p>Struck ca. Summer 307</p><p>AE (bronze) follis or nummus</p><p>25.45 mm. [SURPRISINGLY BIG. I DIDN'T EXPECT THE COIN TO BE THIS LARGE]</p><p>7.84 g.</p><p>180°</p><p>FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C; laureate, cuirassed bust right.</p><p>GENIO-POP ROM; Genius standing facing, towered head left, loins draped, patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left.</p><p>PLN</p><p>RIC VI Londinium 88b</p><p>Gift of jamesicus</p><p>7/24/2017</p><p>Group II, Class III, London[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Gavin Richardson, post: 2805593, member: 83956"][ATTACH=full]655305[/ATTACH] Okay, everyone is going to think that I’m making this up, but I swear it’s true. So this summer I’m recataloguing my collection and switching all coins from flips to trays (Lighthouse coin boxes.) If I have a specialty, it’s Constantine. When I arranged my Constantine trays, I left one spot open for a particular coin: a Constantine Genio Pop Rom from London. That’s the empty space you see in the top left corner. No lie—it’s been empty for months. I wanted to get this particular coin because, as I understand it, it’s among the first coins to announce Constantine as a major player on the world stage, with his father Constantius Chlorus just having died in July of 306. So I go to my mailbox today and, lo and behold, [USER=14873]@jamesicus[/USER] has sent me this very coin as a marvelous gift! He had no way of knowing that I had been saving a spot for it in my tray. Indeed, I had “bookmarked” a version of this coin at the old Hookmoor VCoins site before Hookmoor left VCoins. I just never pulled the trigger. And I’m glad I didn’t. Not only is this a coin I had been coveting, but it is in wonderful condition. It’s difficult to photograph because it’s quite dark and lustrous. This coin was struck sometime within a year of Constantius Chlorus’s death; RIC has ca. summer of 307. It depicts Constantine as Caesar even though Constantine initially flirted with his acclamation as Augustus. Perhaps this coin depicting him as Caesar was a way of showing Galerius that Constantine accepted his secondary position in the West—for now. I would also like to think that since Constantine was “Britain’s Emperor,” the London die engravers might have even seen the man face to face and thus given us a true portrait of him. Who knows. At any rate, what a nice surprise! And what great calligraphy too! Thanks, [USER=14873]@jamesicus[/USER], for your generosity. When I tell my students the story of Constantine’s rise to power, I will be using this coin to illustrate. And I’ll be sure to mention the lovely way I acquired it too. Constantine I, as Caesar 306-337 A.D. Struck ca. Summer 307 AE (bronze) follis or nummus 25.45 mm. [SURPRISINGLY BIG. I DIDN'T EXPECT THE COIN TO BE THIS LARGE] 7.84 g. 180° FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C; laureate, cuirassed bust right. GENIO-POP ROM; Genius standing facing, towered head left, loins draped, patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left. PLN RIC VI Londinium 88b Gift of jamesicus 7/24/2017 Group II, Class III, London[/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
The Tetrarchies and the London Mint
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...