Victor_Clark

VRBS ROMA A.D. 336 15x17mm 1.6g Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two Chi-Rho's then a star. in ex. PCONST RIC VII Arles 400 the engraver made an error as the reverse should have been a Chi-Rho flanked by two stars. Constantine I SOLI from Lugdunum...wolf and twins on shield Constantine I A.D. 315 21x22mm 3.1g IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; cuirassed bust left wearing laureate helmet with wreath on side; shield with wolf and twins on left, Victory on globe in right, presenting wreath to Constantine. SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol stg. left, raising r. hand, globe in l.; chlamys across l. shoulder; across fields T/F. in ex. PLG RIC VII Lyons 22; Bastien 553 Maxentius A.D. 307 24x26mm 6.8g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated left on shield within tetrastyle temple, holding scepter and handing globe to Maxentius, standing right and holding scepter, with foot on bound captive seated right; Victories with wreaths as acroteria, she-wolf and twins in pediment. In ex. AQΓ RIC VI Aquileia 11 Maxentius SAECVLI FELICITAS AVG N from Ostia Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 26mm 6.5g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. SAECVLI FELICITAS AVG N; She-wolf standing left, suckling the twins. In ex. MOSTT RIC VI Ostia 52

I've kept this one in a slab because it is unofficial, though NGC did not notice that. For unofficial coins, that put it on the label. and this coin from CNG from the Epfig hoard has the reverse first.

This coin was struck shortly after the defeat of Maxentius and the reverse was struck only for Constantine. 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 (workshop not in RIC) RIC VI Rome 299

Shortly after the victory, Rome issued two fractional coins to commemorate the event. from my page In 312, Constantine defeated Maxentius and the mint in Rome began striking coins of the same standard as the Gallic mints. The follis was the standard type and it was minted at close to 1/72 libra (roughly 4.5 grams based on a Roman pound of 327 grams), and the size was roughly 21millimeters in diameter. The main reverse types were GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, MARTI CONSERVATORI, SOLI INVICTO COMITI, and SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI. Two fractionals were also struck at Rome during this period and both bear denominational marks. "It will be argued here that the fractions with the XII and XVI marks form a departure from the denominational system of fractions previously struck at Rome, that the radiate crown was used on the coins in order to identify a new denomination, and that the numerals XII and XVI were intended to indicate the official values of the new coins expressed in denarii." The weights of these two coins suggest that they were intended to weigh 2/3 and 1/2 of the follis. http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/fractions/ the first pays homage to Constantine's Gallic troops Constantine I A.D. 312- 313 2/3 follis 19x20mm 3.3g FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right seen from the rear. VIRT EXE-RCIT GALL; Virtus standing left, looking right, right leaning on spear, left holding parazonium; In left field X, in right field VI. In exergue RT RIC VI Rome 360 the second proclaims (wishful) eternal peace Constantine I AD 312-13 half follis 17mm 2.5gm FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG laureate and cuirassed bust right. PACI PERPET; Pax stg. facing, head l., r. holding branch, l. standard; in left field XII. in ex. RP RIC VI Rome 356

the Romans tortured and burned counterfeiters-- “A reward is offered to the accusers of any persons who can be found to be counterfeiters of solidi or who are brought before the public authorities by anyone for this crime. Such criminals shall be delivered to the consuming flames immediately and without delay.” (18 Feb 343) Theodosian Code 9:21:5

Trier 900 is laureate, draped and cuirassed and seen from rear; while yours is laureate and cuirassed-- so Trier 899

It looks dubious...especially the way some of the obverse letters look crushed. There are lots of beat-up fake Zenobia coins floating around.

here's my example Julian II A.D. 360-363 24x25mm 6.1gm D N FL C IVLI-ANVS P F AVG; pearl-diademed, draped, & cuirassed bust right. SECVRITAS REIPVB; Bull, head facing, standing right; above, two stars; at right, eagle standing on wreath, holding another wreath in beak. In ex. SCONST copying RIC VIII Arles 318

You will have to update your references to the 6th edition of Hendin

Magnentius was challenging the pro Arian views (Jesus did not always exist) of Constantius II with the Chi-Rho type. The reverse (the A-W across fields) also references "I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end." Magnentius was trying to portray himself as a good Nicaean...the best successor to Constantine I

Here's Magnentius with two captives. Magnentius A.D. 350- 2 22x25mm 4.6g D N MAGNEN-TIVS P F AVG; bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right, A behind bust. GLORIA RO-MANORVM; Emperor standing left, holding victory on globe and standard with Chi-Rho on banner and with foot placed on captive who is seated to left, and whose heads is turned right; to right, captive kneeling left, hands stretched out towards Emperor; A in right field. In ex. AQP• RIC VIII Aquileia 148

This type was struck under Magnentius and Nepotian. When assigning RIC numbers to these, it is a bit arbitrary since the biggest difference between the issues is size, and there is overlap, i.e. Second series first group (Magnentius) RIC 195- 197 dia. 25- 26mm, second group (Nepotian) RIC 198- 200 dia. 23- 25mm, third group (Magnentius) RIC 204- 205 dia. 22- 24mm. When I have examples I describe them like this-- RIC VIII Rome 198/ 204

here's a Vetranio...interestingly with no beard and looking more like Constantius II Vetranio A.D. 350 22x24mm 3.5gm D N VETRANIO P F AVG; laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right. CONCORDIA MILITVM; Vetranio standing facing, holding labarum inscribed with Chi-Rho in each hand, star above, A in left field, B in right. In ex. •TS∆• RIC VIII Thessalonica 132

Yes, it was struck shortly before Nepotian revolted.

here's some Ostrogothic municipal coinage Ostrogoths, Municipal Coinage Æ 40 Nummi. Rome, AD 526-534. INVICTA ROMA, draped bust of Roma to right, wearing crested helmet, pendant earring and necklace / She-wolf standing to left, head turned back to watch the two infants Romulus and Remus suckling; XL (mark of value) above, •||||• in exergue. MEC 1, 93-5. 13.39g, 25mm, 1h. OSTROGOTHS. Athalaric. Municipal Coinage. 526-534. Æ 20 Nummi – Half Follis (21mm, 4.31 g). Rome mint. [Helmeted and draped bust of Roma right] / She-wolf standing left, head right, suckling twins; above, Christogram between two stars; · X · X · in exergue. COI 84b; MIB 71c; MEC 1, 99. Ostrogoths, Pseudo-Autonomous Æ Nummus (24mm 11.3g 12h). Struck during the reigns of Theodoric and Athalaric in Rome, circa AD 493-553. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma right / Eagle with raised wings standing left, head right; XL upwards to left; •Δ• in exergue. COI 76b; MEC 101; BMC Vandals 14; MIB I 74a; Demo 42. CNG Inv. 824397 (November 2008); Gemini XIII (6 April 2017) lot 267; Ex Classical Numismatic Review XLII. 3 (Summer 2017), no. 460205; CNG 117 (May 2021) lot 737 OSTROGOTHS. A.D. 493- 553. 20 Nummi or Half Follis (23x24mm 6.5gm) Municipal issue. Rome mint. INVICTA ROMA, helmeted and draped bust of Roma right. REV: Palm tree; to left and right, eagle standing outward, heads facing inward; in ex. •XX•. COI 83 (Athalaric); MEC 110. Ex Numismatik Naumann, Auktion 69 (2 September 2018) lot 453; Numismatica Ars Classica 93 (24 May 2016), lot 1119; Numismatica Ars Classica Autumn 1995, lot 711.

This type was only struck at Trier and is attributed to the period known as the Revolt of Poemenius. This event would be completely lost to history except for the brief passage in Ammianus 15.6.4: ...Poemenius was condemned as a malefactor, hailed to execution and perished; he was the man (as we have told above) who was chosen to protect his fellow-citizens when Trier closed its gates against Decentius Caesar. Sometime in A.D. 353, the citizens of Trier revolted against Decentius and declared their support of Constantius II (SALVS AVG NOSTRI = Safety of our Augustus). Unfortunately for Poemenius, he was executed in A.D. 355, probably for his support of Silvanus. Constantius II A.D. 353 23x25mm 6.3g D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. SALVS AVG NOSTRI; Chi-Rho flanked by A and W In ex. TRS✶ RIC VIII Trier 332

Totila/Baduila (A.D. 541-552) Decanummium (16mm 5.1g). Rome DN BADVILA REX. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing. FLOREAS SEMPER. King standing right with shield and spear; X in right field. Metlich 98b; MEC 162.

Magnentius initially struck some coins for Constantius II, hoping to be recognized as co-Emperor. Constantius II A.D. 350 22mm 4.5gm DN CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG; laurel and rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding globe, N behind bust. FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Emperor holding standard with Chi-Rho on banner and resting hand on shield; in front of him two bound captives; left field N. In ex. R S RIC VIII Rome 188

That idea doesn't hold a lot of traction, as antelope and deer (which are surely common) also appear on these coins. The infant Zeus was also suckled by the goat Amalthea.

These coins are part of the coded series from Siscia. Coins for Diocletian spell out Jupiter and Maximianus coins spell out Hercules. The reverses below are Diocletian stg. r., and Jupiter stg. l., sacrificing at altar, each holding sceptre. the first bit in the exergue is XXI (20:1 bronze to silver) and then workshop A= I, workshop B= O and workshop Γ = BI I/O/BI for Jupiter http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/CONSERVATOR/

not a token or card, but this is his safe travel document after agreeing to no more hostilities for my gggrandfather A.W. Bradley

some of my best finds have been on eBay...but everyone else should stop bidding there! 😁

Big-eyed with odd armor Licinius II A.D. 319 19mm 2.9g LICINIVS IVN NOB CAES; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left. VIRTVS EXERCIT; Standard inscribed VOT/XX with captive seated on ground on either side, S-F across fields. in ex. •TS•A• RIC VII Thessalonica 79 Constantine I A.D. 318 19mm 3.5gm IMP CONSTANTI-NVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder, empty[?] left hand. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ASIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 49

I think that the use of captives in the mintmark at this time references the military campaigns of Crispus against Germanic tribes.

A youngish Nero Nero A.D. 50- 54 PHRYGIA, Hierapolis 19x20mm 6.3g Chares and Papias, magistrates NEPΩN KAIΣAP; draped bust of Nero to right. TI ΔIONYΣIOΣ IEPAΠO ΛITΩN; Apollo on horseback to right, with double axe over shoulder. RPC I 2976; SNG Copenhagen 456 “The obverse is self explanatory: a youthful portrait of the emperor with some drapery, and a short inscription in Greek for the Latin form Nero Caesar. On the reverse we have the depiction of a male figure on horseback, holding a double axe over his shoulder. We know that this is a depiction of Apollo, who was the principal deity of Hierapolis, and who appears in different ways on the coinage. On this coin, we also have a personal Greek name, with two elements, Ti(berios) Dionysios , and the name of the people of the city, in the genitive plural as had always been normal on Greek coins. We know nothing about Dionysios other than his name.” Andrew Burnett "The Augustan Revolution Seen from the Mints of the Provinces" The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 101 (2011), p. 3