Heliodromus Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 This coin just sold in Kuenker 377 (# 6050). It's an unlisted siliqua of Constantine II from Rome 337-340 AD (weight 2.87g). What jumps out is the sidecurl hairstyle - I've never seen anything like it on a roman coin! Can anyone put this in context - have you seen or heard of this before ? It brings to mind Orthodox Jewish Payot, but that can't be the reason here. Is it even ancient (it appears pretty convincing to me) ? 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 This coin looks rather odd 🤪, maybe the engraver at the Rome mint had no model to work with. Never the less, the portrait is finely engraved in "the eyes to God" style ☺️. Pictured below is a typical portrait of Constantine II on a LRB. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 The siliqua with the sideburns is spectacular. I think this type of facial hairstyle was meant to signify adolescent age. Here is a common coin of Crispus, which, rather unusually for Crispus also shows these sideburns. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES // PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS Mint: Rome weight: 3.1g 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heliodromus Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 Just now, Tejas said: The siliqua with the sideburns is spectacular. I think this type of facial hairstyle was meant to signify adolescent age. You think it's just (oddly depicted) sideburns? Possible, I suppose, and would make more sense if that is what the engraver was going for, but it really has the appearance to me of something loose hanging with a twisted top portion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tejas Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 (edited) I think it is an elaborate artistic interpretation of sideburns. Something like a pre-beard which appears on coins depicted adolescent emperors, aged 15 to 20 years. I'm quite certain the coin is genuine. Edited October 21, 2022 by Tejas 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romancollector Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2022 (edited) @kapphnwn and I discussed this coin as I was debating whether I’d go after it. I didn’t and wouldn’t have won it anyways. I believe that a die match is plated in RIC. It is definitely a unique variety, but I wouldn’t question its authenticity for this reason. Edited October 21, 2022 by Romancollector 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heliodromus Posted October 21, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 27 minutes ago, Romancollector said: I believe that a die match is plated in RIC Ah, yes! I was sloppy and was going by the auction description which said it's unlisted, but it is in fact RIC VIII Rome 1 (R5), and as you say die-linked to the RIC plate coin from Oxford Ashmolean. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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