I had a good year collecting; which made it tough to pick a "top ten." The first coin below is easily my coin of the year though. It's a unique coin from Constantinople and it copies a denarius of Trajan, including the slight drapery. It is the second time that a Trajan coin was copied in bronze. The first time was in A.D. 312 with the S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI Legionary eagle with wings spread, between two vexilla. Constantine IA.D. 330-337 20mm 3.1g CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; Rosette-diademed head right, with slight drapery on left shoulder. S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI; Victory standing front, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. In ex. CONSA RIC VII Constantinople –- and another Constantinople coin, not unique, but very tough to find Constantine I A.D. 326 18mm 2.4gm Anepigraphic: laureate head right. CONSTAN/TINVS/AVG in three lines; wreath above. In ex. CONSA RIC VII Constantinople 13 This coin was struck in Rome under Constantine II during the three month interregnum after the death of Constantine I. There was also a different Constantinopolis coin with VICTORIA AVG reverse issued alongside this type. VRBS ROMA BEATA A.D. 337 17mm 2.0g Obv. VRBS ROMA BEATA; helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, wreath between two stars. In ex. branch R Q branch RIC VIII Rome 55 Here is an early issue for Constantine from Ticinum and per RIC was only struck for Constantine and demonstrated that Ticinum was “already showing strong signs of Constantine’s influence” (RIC VI p. 274) It was struck shortly before Maxentius took control. Constantine I A.D. 306 28mm 8.7g CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear. VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN; Prince with shield on left arm, galloping right and spearing kneeling foe; second foe (holding sword?) prostrate on ground; A in left field. In ex. TT RIC VI Ticinum 72 Carausius A.D. 291 24mm 4.3g IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right PAX AVGGG; Pax stg. l., holding olive branch and sceptre; S-P across fields. In ex. MLXXI RIC Vii London 143 this coin celebrates Constantine’s first dies imperii-- the one year anniversary of his succession/usurpation Constantine I A.D. 307 ¼ follis 15mm 1.2g FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. PLVR / NATAL / FEL in three lines within laurel wreath. RIC VI Trier 746; Zschucke 6.14 Constantine I A.D. 307 Ӕ follis 28mm 8.7g FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right. CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing, head left, in long drapery with elephant- skin head-dress, right holding standard, left tusk, at feet to left lion with captured bull, in right field I.; SE in left field, F in right. In ex. Δ RIC VI Carthage 58 here's a neat error (or new bust type...jk)...the engraver forgot the ties on headdress Maximinus II A.D. 308- 310 25mm 7.0g IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right. GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius standing left, holding patera & cornucopiae; crescent over K in left field, Δ over P in right. In ex. ALE RIC VI Alexandria 103 This appears to be the only known example of Roma wearing a decorated helmet for the entire series. VRBS ROMA A.D. 332- 333 17mm 2.5g VRBS-ROMA; Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak; helmet decorated with a palm branch (or feather) and a volute on the bowl. Rev.- She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars. In ex. TR•S RIC VII Trier 542 This bust type is not listed in RIC-- Maximianus A.D. 289- 290 Ӕ Antoninianus 23mm 3.2g IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear. CONSERVATOR AVGG; Maximianus holding sceptre, and Hercules, leaning on club; standing face to face, sacrificing at altar; Γ in right. In ex. •XXI•ΛI• RIC Vii Siscia 580 var. (bust type) for more on this "secret code" coin-- https://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/CONSERVATOR/
Those are all fantastic bronzes, Victor.I happen to like the "VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN" & Maximianus, the best.
All great coins! I particularly like the second coin of Constantine and the second-to-last coin with Roma and the She-Wolf!
1, 4 and 9 is my preference from 10 great looking coins. Each time I look at your site, the thought that always comes to mind, is how great there is a collection containing historically important and rare/scarce examples, to be admired in one place. Hats off to you @Victor_Clark for providing such interest for me and, I believe, many others. Thanks for sharing these top ten of 2023 with us. I look forward to what you will uncover this coming year.
Splendid group. The Constantine homage to Trajan is such a fascinating bit of history, numismatic and otherwise. I also can't get over the one on horseback with the foe lying back (and the kneeling one supplicating? Or holding sword?). I watched some interesting LRBC collections this year at auction (e.g. Ramskold, both Constantinian and the barbs; last of DiMarzio's), but didn't buy many. A few for my "barbarians" captives & enemies. First new Vetranio in... 15 years? Outbid on it at Leu in 2022, got it later from CNG, scrubbed of some dirt, collection history (A. Lang) and, surprisingly, much of the price: Posted that one the next here. One of the scarce FEL TEMP REPARATIO's (prefer not to name where, but if I say my offer for 80% off was auto-accepted you may be able to guess): Also some fallen horsemen. (Finally got an Amiens mint one.) Group of 13 LRBCs from the CJ Sabine collection (author of important articles on Crusader coinage published c. late 1970s-1980s) w some nice surprises: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/post-your-latest-ancient.394263/page-22#post-24658140 A few others... Oh -- several LRBC books & sale catalogs... Including, finally, LRBC by Carson, Hill, Kent (though sadly I received the wrong copy, sans 1966 correspondence from Carson). The H. Sutherland festschrift (Scripta Nummaria Romana). Arrrg, 8hrs in airports, can't exactly remember them all before boarding...
Choice late Roman bronzes and antoniniani - really super grades. My favorite is the anepigraphic bronze of Constantine I - just a wonderful strike and grade.
Thanks everyone for the comments. I just realized I only posted 2 coins that are not in RIC and decided to post my top 10 "Not in RIC" that did not make the list. not listed in RIC for the first workshop. Constantine I A.D. 306 Ӕ follis 27mm 9.2g CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right. SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN; Moneta standing left with scales & cornucopiae. In ex. R wreath P RIC VI Rome 159b This coin is the same as Cyzicus 84a, except this one has a dot in the left field. RIC 95 has a dot in left field; but the reverse legend ends with CMH and there is no eagle. Footnote for 95—“Maurice includes an issue with GENIO AVGVSTI alone, almost certainly in error.” The preceding issue (RIC 81-82) has a dot in right field; but mintmark of MKVA. Maximinus II A.D. 311- 312 Æ Follis 22mm 5.7g IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right. GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows & cornucopiae over right, eagle (with no wreath in beak) at feet to left; • in left field, B in right field. In ex. MKV cf. RIC VI Cyzicus 84a RIC only lists this type from Trier; but they were also struck at London, Ticinum and Aquileia. Based on style, this one is from Ticinum. Pierre Bastien published two articles about these coins in the 70's. Bastien, Pierre. “Une emission de folles sans marque a Ticinum en 312.” Schweizer Münzblätter 20 (1970) : 114- 115. ________. “Folles sans marque emis par Constantin en Italie.” Schweizer Münzblätter 24 (1974) : 5- 8. Lech has this type here-- https://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/6tic-115_unm1.html Constantine I A.D. 312-313 21mm 4.4g CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right MARTI CONSERVATORI; helmeted & cuirassed bust of Mars right RIC VI Ticinum --- This coin is not in RIC for the bust type, it should come after RIC 24. It is in Bastien as #554. Very rare because it is "dated" COS IIII in the obverse. This coin should have been in my top ten. Constantine I A.D. 315 18mm 1.3g CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG COS IIII; trabeate bust left with Victory on globe in right. SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol stg. left, raising r. hand, globe in l.; chlamys across l. shoulder; T-F across fields. in ex. PLG RIC VII Lyons --; Bastien 554 Interestingly, as I was reading in CHRB about this hoard, there was a section about coins that were not in RIC. This coin (#238) was not listed. I read on and saw that they considered this coin an unofficial issue. However, there is another example, die matched with this one, that clearly shows they are official. https://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7tri-402_s.html Crispus A.D. 321- 323 18mm 2.3gm IVL CRISPVS NOB C; bust l., helmeted, cuir., shield on l. shoulder, Victory on globe in r. hand. BEATA TRANQVILLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX; above, three stars. In ex. [P]TR crescent RIC VII Trier -- ; RMBT 247; Chapmanslade CHRB X 238 (this coin) RIC describes this coin as Roma holding a globe, but this one is holding a victoriola. Drost notes for this type "avec un globe (exceptionnellement, une victoriola)" for #79 Maxentius A.D. 307 25x26mm 5.7g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERVATO-RES VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding victoriola & sceptre; knobs as acroteria; wreath in pediment. In ex. R✶P cf. RIC VI Rome 198a This coin is a RIC VII London 10 variation because of the pellet after the S in the reverse left field. Interestingly, the N of the mintmark looks like it was engraved over a partial N. Lech already has the coin listed- https://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7lon10v-3.html Constantine I A.D. 314 20x21mm 3.5g IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right. SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. l., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder; in l. field S •, in right F. in ex. PLN RIC VII London 10 var; LMCC 8.02.015 var Not in RIC with captive plate coin in "Le monnayage de Maxence" by Vincent Drost Maxentius A.D. 308- 310 22mm 6.0g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory advancing left with wreath & palm frond; captive at feet. In ex. RBP RIC VI Rome 223 var. (no captive) Drost 112e/1 (this coin illustrated). Constantine I A.D. 314- 315 21mm 3,7g IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right. GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing left, tower on head, loins draped, r. holding patera, l. cornucopiae. In ex. PLN RIC VII London--; LMCC 8.07.001; RML 693 (forthcoming) Here's a coin from The Bourton-on-the-Water Hoard which was discovered in 1970 in England. The main part of this Constantinian hoard consisted of 2,707 coins and the majority were Sol issues from London and Trier. It was probably buried shortly after the coin reform which introduced the VLPP series, so circa A.D. 318-19. The obverse legend of this coin is not listed in RIC...RIC only records this coin with the longer IMP LICINIVS P F AVG legend https://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7tri-85.html Licinius I A.D. 315-316 21mm 3.8g IMP LICINIVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right GENIO POP ROM; Genius holding patera and cornucopiae, A-S across fields. In ex. PTR cf. RIC VII Trier 85; BOW Hoard #2318 (this coin) "Bourton-on-the-Water (Gloucestershire) Hoard of Constantinian Folles", Numismatic Chronicle 1973
Great coins! Just a note, you have the GENIO POP ROM from London as having PLN in the ex, when it’s MSL. Would this change the attribution or was it’s an error? Love the coins though!
Oops, a lazy copy and paste error. I also didn't put in the field marks. The attribution is correct though...thanks for pointing it out, now I have to change it on my website.
