O-Towner

Quick question. Since this thread ends with Zeno in a couple of days would anyone mind if we continue it a bit and add coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Visigoths afterwards? Would certainly like seeing some examples ... and Rome didn't disappear because of the move to Constantinople.

Marcian AR Siliqua : Constantinople mint Obv: D N MARCIANVS P F AVG; Diademed bust right Rev: SAL / REI / PYI in three lines within wreath; CONS(star) in exergue Ref: RIC 529 Bought this one 20 some years ago from a guy whose father lived somewhere in the middle east and on weekends went to the market located near a river that flowed through the town. Kids would dive in the river and pull coins out of the banks and sell them, and this was one of them. Liked the story so never bothered cleaning it further.

It's certainly an example of Federal Coinage from Boeotia Ox: Head of Demeter (or Kore) Rx: Poseidon standing left and resting right foot on rock Probably BCD Boeotia 106

The only coin that hasn't been shown is Pulcheria, the sister of Theo II. It's a rare coin to say the least. I have a piece that I believe is an ae of her but is not struck well (not very shocking). It's either Eudocia or Pulcheria. Here it is: Obv: AE PVLCH ... (maybe) ; Bust right Rev: (CONCORDIA AVG); Empress enthroned facing with arms folded over breast Ref: Possibly RIC 425 or 427 What'd ya think?

Theodosius II AV Solidus; Constantinople mint (20.6mm, 4.2gms) Obv: D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG; Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing holding spear over shoulder and shield Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG H; Constantinopolis seated facing, head right, with foot on prow and holding scepter and Victory on globe; CONOB in exergue Ref: RIC 202 Eudocia (wife of Theodosius II) AV Tremissis; Constantinople mint (14.6mm, 1.4gms) Obv: AEL EVDOCIA AVG; Diademed and draped bust right Rev: Cross within wreath; CONOB(star) in exergue Ref: RIC X 252

Might as well begin with examples from today's group: Anthemius (467 - 472 AD) Ae Nummus : Rome mint (9.5mm, 1.2gms) Obv: Diademed and cuirassed bust (I guess) of Anthemius right Rev: Monogram of Anthemius Ref: RIC 2857 Julius Nepos (474 - 475 AD) Ae : Mediolanum mint (10.3mm, 1.0gms) Obv: Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: Monogram of Julius Nepos Ref: RIC 3222

Not much going on with this group but here's a few of mine. It's interesting to note that the coins of Val III and Johannes (to a lesser extent) are mostly struck on small odd-shaped flans and as such are commonly missing much of the legends. Johannes Ae, Rome mint (12mm, 1.4gms); RIC X 1916 Obv: D N IOHANNES P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: SALVS REIPVBLICE; Victory advancing left holding trophy over shoulder and dragging captive, staurogram over P in left field; RM in exergue Valentinian III Ae, Rome mint (12mm, 1.5gms) : RIC 2132 Obv: D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: VICTORIA AVGG; Two Victories facing and jointly holding wreath. P above; RM in exergue Valentinian III Ae, Cyzicus mint (12mm, 1.2gms) : RIC 438 Obv: D N VALENTINIANO P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG; Victory advancing facing holding wreaths in outstretched hands; SMKA in exergue

Jovinus (Usurper 411 - 413 AD) AR Siliqua, Lugdunum (Lyon) mint (14.7mm, 1.2gms) Obv: D N IOVINVS P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: VICTORIA AVGG; Roma seated left holding Victory on globe and spear; SMLDV in exergue Ref: RIC 1717

The Big-Eyed .. Constantine III (407 - 411 AD) AR Siliqua, Arelate mint (15mm, 1.8gms) Obv: D N CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Draped and cuirassed bust right Rev: VICTORIA AAVGGG; Roma seated left holding Victory on globe and spear; SMAR in exergue Ref: RIC 1538

A couple more Arcadius Ae types: Obv: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM; Emperor on horseback right and raising right hand; ANTΓ in exergue Ref: RIC IX Antioch 69 (16.0mm, 1.5gms) Obv: D N ARCADIVS P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: VOT V within wreath; CONΓ in exergue Ref: RIC IX Constantinople 62b (15.0mm, 1.4gms) An interestingly very disproportionate bust of Arcadius on this type.

Today on the list: Flavius Victor: Ae, Lugdunum mint (14.2mm, 1.2gms) Obv: D N F L VICTOR P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: SPES ROMANORVM; Campgate with two turrets, star above; LVGP in exergue Ref: RIC 36b Eugenius: Ae, Lugdunum mint (11.9mm, 0.9gms) Obv: D N EVGENIVS P F AVG; Bearded, diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: VICTORIA AVGGG; Victory walking left holding wreath and palm branch; LVGx in exergue Ref: RIC 47

Matching reverse Ae campgate (17-18mm) types from Thessalonica of Valentinian II and Theodosius I. Not the greatest but both are very tough to find. Valentinian II : Obv: D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG; Pearl-diademed and mantled bust left holding mappa and short scepter Theodosius I : Obv: D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG; Same as above Rev (for both): GLORIA REIPVBLICE; Campgate with Christogram above, A to left; TES in exergue

Some Gratian types from my collection: Ae, Arelate mint (17.0mm, 2.6gms) Obv: D N GRATIANVS AVGG AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: GLORIA NOVI SAECVLI; Emperor standing facing, head left, holding labarum and resting hand on shield; TCON in exergue Ref: RIC 10 AR Siliqua,Siscia mint (19.1mm, 1.8gms) Obv: D N GRATIANVS P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: VOT / X / MVLT / XX in four lines within wreath; Chi-Rho in medallion at top of wreath; SISCP in exergue Ref: RIC 18

There's even the little half-unit type (11.8mm, 1.3gms) : Ref: Price 3334 Obv: Head of Herakles right wearing lion-skin headdress Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY between bow in bow-case and club; AP below

Here's my Valentinian I AR Miliarense: Rome mint, struck 364 - 367 AD (23.2mm, 4.3gms) Obv: D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG; Diademed and cuirassed bust right Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM; Victory standing right, left foot on globe, inscribing shield on cippus wtih VOT / V / MVLT / X in four lines; R P in exergue Ref: RIC IX - 8a Kinda looks like an "eyes to Heaven" gaze on him ... or maybe just a "sheesh"

Here's another Rome mint type of Magnentius. Bit of colorful red patina but tougher to find and an interesting reverse design: Ae : Rome mint (21mm, 4.1gms) Obv: IMP CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG; Bare bust right, N behind Rev: VICTORIA AVG LIB ROMANOR; Victory standing right and Libertas standing left each with one hand on trophy between them, RP in exergue Ref: RIC VIII 191

A couple of colorful Constantius II types: Ae : Antioch mint (18mm, 1.7gms) Obv: (Anepigraphic); Laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev: CONSTAN / TIVS / CAESAR; Legend in three lines with star above, SMANTA below Ref: RIC VII 55 Ae : Arles/Constantia mint (19mm, 2.5gms) Obv: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; Diademed and cuirassed bust left Rev: VIRTVS CAESS; Campgate with open doors and four turrets, S - F to either side, QCONST in exergue Ref: RIC VII 335

A very Impressive collection. Wow.

A Crispus I haven't figured out yet (RIC ?): Crispus, as Caesar : Ae Follis : Rome mint Obv: CRISPVS NOBIL CAES: Laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev: PRINCIPIA IVVENTVTIS; Mars advancing right holding spear and shield, A in left field; R T in exergue Crispus, as Caesar : Ae3 : Rome mint : RIC VII Rome 180 var. (bust type) Obv: CRISPVS NOB CAES: Laureate and cuirassed bust right Rev: VIRTVS AVGG; Campgate with closed doors, P - R across fields; R Q in exergue

@John ConduittA beautiful example of a Crispus "Globe on Altar". Here's my similar type with a laureate Crispus holding a spear and shield (RIC 279):

Constantine I Ae Follis, Londinium mint, struck 321/3 AD (19.4mm, 3.8gms) Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG; Helmeted and cuirassed bust left Rev: BEAT TRANQLITAS; Globe set upon altar inscribed VOT/IS/XX with three stars above, PLON in exergue Ref: RIC VII 269

Ae Follis : Rome mint (19.2mm, 3.8gms) Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate, helmeted and cuirassed bust right Rev: VIRTVS AVGG; Campgate with closed doors and three turrets, P – R to either side; R S in exergue Ref: RIC 176 Ae Follis : Rome mint, struck 320 AD (18.5mm, 3.0gms) Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG; Helmeted and cuirassed bust right Rev: VOT X / ET XV F / RS in three lines within wreath Ref: RIC 207 Ae Follis : Antioch mint (18.0mm, 2.5gms) Obv: (Anepigraphic); Laureate bust right Rev: CONSTAN / TINVS / AVG / SMANTS in four lines; wreath above Ref: RIC 57

Balbinus (238 AD) : Tarsos Cilicia : Ae Obv: AYT KAI KE KAIΛ BAΛBEINOC CEB (or similar); Laureate bust right, Π-Π across fields Rev: TAΡCOY MHTΡOΠOΛEΩCΛ; Athena seated left, holding Nike and spear, shield at her side; A M K B Γ in fields Ref: BMC 240 : Size: 36.1mm, 30.8gms

Interesting site @Valentinian. Some coins I had never seen or knew existed. I would like your opinion on this Justinian (I think) follis from Nikomedia, a city that has no "cross" coins associated with it; Obv: D N IVSTINIAS PP AG; Bust right Rev: Large M, star to left and cross above and to right, A below; NIKM in exergue What's interesting is the four dots over the obverse bust which certainly can be construed as a cross when considering the seven dots within the rectangular incuse on the sleeve which clearly form a cross. I guess the first question is if this is Justin or Justinian (pretty sure it's the latter) when considering the obverse inscription. Secondly, do you consider both sets of dots as crosses?

A confusing issue as I've seen it listed as Ptolemy II, Ptolemy III, Ptolemy V and Ptolemy IX. A small lot of these came to the market about a year or so ago. I think Ptolemy III (Svoronos 869) may be the flavor of the month.