Constantius II, apparent scarcity

[expat]

While looking at my few LRB´s, I thought "let´s see other examples of this. Well, there is not many to see. 1 on Wildwinds, and 1 on OCRE held at The American Numismatical Society. OCRE also list 1 as being held at the British Museum, https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.7.aq.133 .Struck at the Aquileia mint between 335-336, it has a mintmark F between the 2 standards. RIC lists it as R5 but I don´t think it is rare, more likely scarce. If anyone with knowledge about this issue would like to chime in, you would be very welcome. The coin is not in great condition, being fairly corroded, but the important bits are visible and clear.

The coin was part of a lot purchased from @Ursus a few years back when I started collecting ancients as an opportunity to read up on a number of Emperors. Sadly, my attention soon was grabbed by 1st to 2nd century and Republicans issues, and the LRB´s were on the back burner so to speak.

Anyway, here is the coin

Constantius II, as Caesar, 18mm, 1.78gr AE3. Aquileia 335-336 AD.
Authority of Constantine I
Obv: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS, two soldiers facing with spears and shields, two standards between, F between standards, AQS in ex.
RIC VII 133 R5.

 

Edited May 16 by expat

[Heliodromus]

I'd agree scarce rather than rare.

The Aquileia mint had been closed c.323-324, then reopened ten years later c.333-334, after which it it never seems to have put out a high volume of coins (at least during Constantine's time), so all issues are scarce.

I'm curious if anyone has read any theories on why the mint closed and then reopened on those dates?

This "F" issue is interesting - what does it stand for? It was immediately preceded by the equally interesting cross/T-like "issue mark", except the 3 types being issued (VRBA ROMA, CONSTANTINOPOLIS, GLORIA EXERCITVS all had *different* marks - dot, star and "cross" respectively).

Does anyone have any theories, or has heard any, about the "F" ?

 

[rasiel]

There's probably oodles of these. For any deep dive on LRB the best tool is Coryssa. There's 37,000 coins of Constantius II on there as of today.

Rasiel

ps. there I go tootin' my own horn again 🙄

[expat]

I checked Coryssa and well as others. Aquileia mint and with an F identifier doesn´t show much at all.

Edited May 17 by expat