Hughie Dwyer Posted February 13 · Member Share Posted February 13 (edited) Hello all, Being new to collecting, I often encounter difficulties when trying to research my coins and the Empire itself. Usually, I work around them and everything works out fine. However, there has been one problem hanging over me for some time: Back when I first started collecting, I bought a lot of uncleaned/unresearched coins from the Late Roman Empire (not worth it in my opinion) and I have now come to the point that I feel I must properly identify them. I know the basics of each coin (e.g. the emperor, the obverse, the reverse) but finding the mints and the 'RIC value' seems impossible. At last, after many hours of research, I have come to the FORVM to ask for the assistance from more experienced members. I have a few questions: What do you do if you can't properly identify a coin? Can you always Identify a coin/a coin's mint? How do I know if I have identified the right emperor? This sounds like a silly question but, to me, most of the portraits look the same and some of the coins don't have a readable legend to go by. I will post pictures of the coins soon Thanks in advance for any help - it is much appreciated! Many thanks, Hugh Edited February 13 by Hughie Dwyer 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 13 · Member Author Share Posted February 13 This is just one of my problems: (sorry for the BAD photos) I have this down as a Valens but I am beginning to think that this could be Valentinian I or even Valentinan II. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 13 · Member Author Share Posted February 13 As our final examples, we have these: Here, both these coins have been cleaned with harsh chemicals before purchase and so obscuring much of the important writing. On the first, I have tried to discern the meaning but have had limited luck. As for the latter, I have almost given up. Many thanks for viewing, HD P.S. Please feel free to notify me of any problems/mistakes with what I have put. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted February 13 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted February 13 I think you are mostly right. Good work. It's hard with the "uncleaned" hoards to get much out of them. I started with those when I got back into the hobby in 2013. Lots of culls and coins which were featureless, like 60% of the one kilogram lot I purchased. If I had $2 for every FEL TEMP REPARATIO coin of Constantius II I received I would have made a profit on the purchase! This one reminds me of your Constans piece but is Constantius II from Antioch.... 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 13 · Member Author Share Posted February 13 Thank you @Ancient Coin Hunter! It's nice to know I'm somewhat 'on the right track'. You have quite a neat coin there too! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted February 14 · Member Share Posted February 14 2 hours ago, Hughie Dwyer said: This is just one of my problems: (sorry for the BAD photos) I have this down as a Valens but I am beginning to think that this could be Valentinian I or even Valentinan II. Hughie, One of your coins may be the smaller version of this issue 😉. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted February 14 · Member Share Posted February 14 12 hours ago, Hughie Dwyer said: This is just one of my problems: (sorry for the BAD photos) I have this down as a Valens but I am beginning to think that this could be Valentinian I or even Valentinan II. This might be in fact Theodosius I. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 16 · Member Author Share Posted February 16 (edited) Hello again, Sorry if I'm asking too many questions. @seth77 Yes, I think that you are right. Looking at the obscured obeverse legend, it does seem to say 'DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG' which matches up with him. @Al Kowsky Your coin indeed looks to be a much nicer version of mine. @Ancient Coin Hunter Our coins are quite similar! However, it is this coin that I am researching now. : I have it down as 'FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C' but actually the legend does not match up. I found this coin on Wildwinds.com and I believe it might have the same obverse legend as my coin: 'FL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES' THIS IS NOT MY COIN However, there is no coin on any database that I have searched that has this obverse with my reverse. Is it possible that this could happen? Do you think that I am worrying over nothing? Many thanks for viewing, Hugh P.S. I will be researching this coin (as well as others) further and will update you on any progress. I have similar problems on other coins. I will hopefully update the BAD photos soon to see if that makes it any easier. Edited February 16 by Hughie Dwyer 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted February 16 · Member Share Posted February 16 Consider FL CONSTANTIS BEA C or NOB C, for Constans. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 17 · Member Author Share Posted February 17 @seth77 Again, I think that you are right. Here is a coin I found on Wildwinds. This is not my coin. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 17 · Member Author Share Posted February 17 I seem to be getting a bit better at this. I have solved most of my original problems - but a few. Thank you all so much for all of the help! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 20 · Member Author Share Posted February 20 ...and maybe not... Sorry to bump this thread again but I have this coin where, once again, the legends fails to match up with what I have it down as. Again, I have this down as 'FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C' but this coin actually looks more like it says 'CONSTANTINVS ...', which made me think that this was actually a Constantine I. Anyways, as per usual, and help is always much appreciated and thank you for all the help that I have already received. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 20 · Member Author Share Posted February 20 For this coin: The obverse legend clearly states 'NOB C' at the end. It looks to me as if it says: 'DN CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C' There are only two similar legends on Wildwinds and they are 'FL IVL CONSTANTIVS IVN NOB C' 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiaora Posted February 20 · Member Share Posted February 20 The first coin is Constantine II, from Trier 1 hour ago, Hughie Dwyer said: ...and maybe not... Sorry to bump this thread again but I have this coin where, once again, the legends fails to match up with what I have it down as. Again, I have this down as 'FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C' but this coin actually looks more like it says 'CONSTANTINVS ...', which made me think that this was actually a Constantine I. Anyways, as per usual, and help is always much appreciated and thank you for all the help that I have already received. The second coin is Constantius Gallus 1 hour ago, Hughie Dwyer said: For this coin: 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 20 · Member Author Share Posted February 20 Thank you very much @Kiaora. I have updated my info. Hope these are as expected: 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted February 20 · Supporter Share Posted February 20 It might help to use Tesorillo for LRBs, as it’s a bit easier to narrow down by reverse type, mint and legend. Once you’ve done that, you can get an ID on Ocre. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughie Dwyer Posted February 25 · Member Author Share Posted February 25 Thank you everyone who helped me out. I am very pleased with the outcome. I thought that I should update you all on ow it has turned out. Please see the images below - enjoy! Thanks again, Hugh 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniard Posted February 26 · Supporter Share Posted February 26 @Hughie Dwyer..Very nice way to display your coin collection Hugh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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