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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 8306879, member: 75937&quot;][ATTACH=full]1470175[/ATTACH]</p><blockquote><p><font size="3">Time of Constans and Constantius II.</font></p><p><font size="3">Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 1.59 g, 14.3 mm, 5 h.</font></p><p><font size="3">Heraclea, AD 347-348.</font></p><p><font size="3">Obv: VRBS ROMA, helmeted and mantled bust of Roma, left.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rev: VOT XX MVLT XXX legend in four lines within laurel-wreath, •SMHB below.</font></p><p><font size="3">Refs: RIC viii, p. 433, 56; LRBC I, 965; Cohen 10; RCV 17545.</font></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>These coins are not commonly encountered in nice condition, so when I saw this one at [USER=42773]@John Anthony[/USER]&#039;s V-Coins site, I had to get it for my VRBS ROMA subcollection. While the wolf and twins reverse type for these coins is certainly the most encountered and of interest, this obverse was intentionally paired with other reverse types at certain mints. [USER=44316]@Valentinian[/USER] has an <a href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://augustuscoins.com/ed/CON/Founding.html" rel="nofollow">excellent page on his website</a> about these if you&#039;re interested in learning more about this fascinating series.</p><p><br /></p><p>The VRBS ROMA coins were struck at all mints from 330 until the death of Constantine I in 337, and continued until 340 when Constantine II died. After his death, very few, or even no, copper coins were issued for six years, with small issues resuming in 347-348, such as my new coin. This particular reverse type paired with the VRBS ROMA obverse was issued only at Heraclea and Nicomedia, two cities on the shore of the Propontis.</p><p><br /></p><p>The VRBS ROMA and CONSTANTINOPOLIS coins were subject to a coinage reform in 335, when the module was reduced from ~2.5 g to ~1.6 g in weight and from ~18 mm to ~15 mm in diameter. When buying and attributing these coins, pay attention to their weights and diameters and you may have to look in two different volumes of your references to find them. The earlier, larger modules are listed in RIC vii and Sear vol. 4, with the smaller modules listed in RIC viii and Sear vol. 5.</p><p><br /></p><p>A massive monetary reform took place in 348, accompanied by the introduction of the popular FEL TEMP REPARATIO series. But that&#039;s a subject for a completely different thread.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Do you have any VRBS ROMA coins with reverses other than the wolf and twins design? Let&#039;s see what you have!!</i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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