Victor's top 10 of 2020

I think that I have posted topics about most of these. My collecting interests are mainly 4th century, with a particular focus in Constantinian coinage.

the first was my first favorite of the year, purchased in February--



Constantine I
A.D. 318-19
19mm 2.9g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right with spear across right shoulder and shield/ buckler on left.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.
in ex. ΓSIS
RIC VII Siscia –


RIC does not list this bust type (H6) for any of the VLPP’s; but, with the obverse legend, it should come after Siscia 53





Constantine I
A.D. 312- 313
21mm 4.7g
IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, leaning on club and holding Victory on globe and lion’s skin.
In ex. R S
RIC VI Rome 299

This rarer reverse type was issued after the defeat of Maxentius. During this period, the mint of Rome struck coins for Maximinus and Licinius I also, but a few types, including this one, were struck only for Constantine I. It is also an unlisted workshop (RIC VI only lists P and Q) and is ex- Dattari.

The use of the Hercules reverse is perhaps a reference to the Tetrarchic system in which rulers belonged to either the family of Jupiter or Hercules; though there were HERCVLI VICTORI reverses issued from the East for all three rulers. On a side note-- there is also a herculean allusion from Praxagoras of Athens via the review of Photius in which Constantine was forced by Galerius to fight a lion.

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/Constantine/Photius.html





Constantine I BI Nummus. Rome, AD 320. CONSTANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated right on round shield, holding another round shield inscribed X-V in two lines; RЄѠCP (ЄѠ ligate) in exergue. RIC 194 corr. (Roma seated left). 3.63g, 19mm, 6h.

special because of the cryptogram in the mintmark

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/ROMAE/




anepigraphic DAFNE

Constantine I Æ Nummus. Constantinople, AD 328. Rosette-diademed head right, looking upwards / CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE, Victory seated left on cippus, looking right, palm branch in each hand; trophy in front, at the foot of which kneels a captive, spurned by Victory; B in left field, CONS in exergue. RIC 32 var. (obv. legend); Speck and Huston 32. 3.17g, 21mm, 6h.

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com//DAFNE/





Licinius I, with Licinius II as Caesar, Æ Nummus. Nicomedia, AD 320. DD NN IOVII LICINII INVICT AVG ET CAES, confronted laureate and draped busts of Licinius I and II, together holding Fortuna / I O M ET FORT CONSER DD NN AVG ET CAES, Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe in right hand, leaning on sceptre; Fortuna standing right crowned with modius, holding cornucopiae and rudder set on globe, SMNΔ in exergue. RIC 38. 4.17g, 22mm, 12h.

Bastien, "Coins with a Double Effigy Issued by Licinius at Nicomedia, Cyzicus, and Antioch," Numismatic Chronicle 1973





Valens, Eastern Roman Empire (AD 364-378). AE2 (22mm, 4.43 gm, 5h). Trier, AD 367-375. D N VALEN-S P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Valens right, seen from front / GLORI-A ROMA-NORVM, campgate with six rows, two turrets, no doors; S above, SMTR in exergue. RIC IX 29b.






Maximinus II, as Caesar, BI Nummus. Cyzicus, circa AD 308. GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, four-turreted camp gate without doors; MKΓ in exergue. RIC 40. 6.05g, 26mm, 12h.




Maximinus II, as Caesar, 305-309. Follis (Bronze, 26 mm, 6.44 g, 12 h), Antiochia, circa 309. MAXIMINVS NOB CAES Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Maximinus II to left, holding spear over his right shoulder and shield decorated with two horsmen riding to left, four enemies below them; on cuirass, gorgoneion; on helmet, Sol standing facing in quadriga, raising his right hand in salute and holding globe in his left, around, stars and crescent, crest ending in griffin. Rev. VIRTVS EXERCITVS / B / ANT Virtus standing front, head to left, resting her right hand on decorated shield and holding spear in her left; in field to left, lighted altar. RIC 125





Diocletian
A.D. 295
AR Argenteus
19mm 3.3g
DIOCLETIANVS AVG; laureate head right.
VICTORIAE SARMATICAE; four turreted camp-gate, open, with doors thrown back; each turret surmounted by facing eagle.
In ex. SMNΓ
RIC VI Nicomedia 22a



and my most recent and probably last coin of the year--



Constantius I. As Caesar, AD 293-305. AR Argenteus (18mm, 2.74 g, 6h). Carthage mint, 3rd officina. Struck circa AD 296-298. Laureate head right / Africa standing facing, head left, holding standard and tusk; at her feet, lion standing left, head right, with bucranium to left; T. RIC VI 14a; RSC 33.

Ex Charles Oman collection

 

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Superb coins. My favorites are the Lic I and II, Maximinus II and Diocletian campgate.

 

Well done, @Victor_Clark ! Excellent 2020... I really like the reverse of your last one.

 

That argenteus from Karthago is just a beaut. Quite a catch, Victor!

 

I see something special about each one. The Maximinus II campgate may not have doors but what is that cross hatched grating descending from the top of the door? I suppose the one I found personally notable is the 'cryptogram' RЄѠCP. I once had a goal of getting the set of these but failed to find even one Licinius II and only had one or the other of the reverses for most of the other persons who had these.
Constantine I


Licinius I


Crispus (both types)


Constantine II


We could mention that the types also come with a more ordinary Rome mintmark and sell for less but are not all that east to find. These the Crispus and Constantine II plain brown wrapper coins.

 

It's a portcullis-- a heavy gate that can be raised and lowered.

 

Nice selection. I like your fist coin. The super-sized obverse portrait has a comic feeling...

 

My favorite is still the Valens AE2, with the Carthaginian argenteus close behind

 

That is one of the things that attracted me to Siscian VLPP's...the earlier busts in the series frequently have a stylized, cartoonish look.

 

Still like the helmeted Maximin Daia. My favorite for sure.

 

Some wonderful coins this year, Victor.

My favorites are 3, 5, 7, 8, & 10

 

I guess a bunch of these would make one of your argenteus. It's my favourite coin from the great city of Karthago. Love the lion on this one:

Galerius
AE Follis

298 A.D., Carthage Mint, 4th Officina
8.24g, 28.0mm, 6H

Obverse: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES,
Head of Galerius, laureate, right

Reverse: FELIX A-DV-ENT AVGG NN,
Africa, wearing elephant-skin head-dress, draped, standing front, head left, holding standard in right hand and tusk in left hand; to left, lion with captured bull

Exergue: -/I//PKΔ

Provenance: Ex. Dattari Collection, Ex. Jesus Vico Online Auction 5, Lot 204

Reference: RIC VI Carthage 26b

 

I really like the Diocletian campgate All of the others are supberb examples!

Here is one of my Constantine I era coins/
AV Aureus ND/ Ticinum Mint
Constantius I Chlorus "The Green"
ex: Tkalec

 

I actually like the bronzes most, but the argenteus made my top 10 because of rarity and the provenance was an added bonus. I have about 2 dozen bronzes and two were in the running this year for top coins, but did not make the cut.

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/Carthage/

 

Fantastic coins Victor (no surprise).

I love the fact one is from Charles Oman's collection. I have book that used to be in his library (below). He might well have held your coin and my book at the same time....

I remember reading his two volume "A History of the Art of War in the Middle Ages" back many, many years ago - I collected spurs and mace heads at the time, not Roman coins. An old book, but a great read. It starts with the defeat at Adrianople in 378.

SC

 

Great selection of late Roman coins, I especially like the camp gate types with Maximinus portcullis door a stand out. Congrats.

 

Beautiful set Victor! I especially love the facing busts of Licinius I and II

 

Fantastic top 10 @Victor_Clark ! The facing Licinius I & II and the Maximinus II campgate are my favourites, followed by the argentei.

 

Honorable mention for this guy. I guess it's a good year when Domitius Domitianus doesn't make the top 10. He was used to not being included though.




Domitius Domitianus
A.D. 295- 296
24mm 10.8g
IMP C L DOMITIVS DOMITIANVS AVG; laureate head right.
GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae, eagle to left; A in right.
In ex. ALE
RIC VI Alexandria 20

 

Great coins @Victor_Clark! I really like the Constantius I and Diocletian AR Argenteus. I didn't know the silver was still so pure during that time.