Constantine I INVICTUS

[seth77]

Late roman coinage is an area that is still likely to provide pleasant surprises to those interested. For instance, here is a rare issue for Constantine naming him Invictus, unlisted in RIC VI. NotInRIC lists just one other spec, from Mr. Lars Ramskold's collection, in a lot which hammered for 1300CHF. This one was 14EUR hammer:

AE24mm 5.95g follis/nummus, minted at Heraclea, fifth group, third coinage, mid 312.
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F INV AVG; laureate head right
IOVI CONSER - VATORI; Jupiter standing facing, looking l. chlamys hanging from l. shoulder, r. holding globe, l. leaning on sceptre. Wreath in left field.
SMHTΓ in exergue
cf. RIC VI Heraclea 67

Historically, this is part of a coinage that asserts the relative peace between the 3 Augusti - Constantine, Licinius and Maximinus II - in 312, much of it likely after Maxentius was already out of the picture. Numismatically, the IOVI type at Heraclea has at least 3 separate issues, that differ in terms of legends and mintmarks, IOVI CONSERVATORI - IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG and HTA - SMHTA -  /A//SMHT throughout the last part of the year. Since Maximinus styles himself Invictus from c. 311, Constantine is probably 'accepted' on coinage struck by Maximinus as Invictus following the defeat of Maxentius.

[Roman Collector]

What a find!! 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Great acquisition! Historically significant to boot.

[CPK]

Wow, great find!

[Victor_Clark]

5 hours ago, seth77 said:

NotInRIC lists just one other spec, from Mr. Lars Ramskold's collection, in a lot which hammered for 1300CHF. This one was 14EUR hammer

 

This coin is currently in my collection and was not identified as being unlisted until I posted it on my forum.

Constantine I
A.D. 312
Ӕ nummus 21x24mm 4.5g
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F INV AVG; laureate head right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter standing facing, head left, chlamys hanging from left shoulder, right holding globe, left leaning on scepter; in left field wreath, Γ in right.
In ex. SMHTΓ
RIC VI Heraclea --

 

 

and comparing prices in this circumstance makes little sense as this coin was part of a lot of 35 other nice coins. For context here is the lot --

 

 

 

 

and another INVICTVS type with unlisted workshop-- though I have two examples.

 

Constantine I
A.D. 312
22x23mm 4.4g
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F INV AVG; laureate head right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing facing, head left, chlamys hanging from left shoulder, right holding globe, left leaning on scepter; in left field wreath, Γ in right.
In ex. SMHT
RIC VI Heraclea 72

Workshop not listed in RIC

 

 

 

Constantine I
A.D. 312
Ӕ nummus 23mm 4.8g
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F INV AVG; laureate head right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing facing, head left, chlamys hanging from left shoulder, right holding globe, left leaning on scepter; in left field wreath, Γ in right.
In ex. SMHT
RIC VI Heraclea 72

Workshop Not in RIC

 

 

[galeriusmaximinus]

Very nice and interesting coin.

It comes from an emission of the mint of Heraclea in 312, omitted by RIC which struck in 4 officinae for all three emperors Maximinus II, Licinius, and Constantine I. 

The coins are scarce. I know of 45 examples and have in my collection a complete set of all emperors for all officinae (45 is status in early 2021, some more may have appeared since). 

The average weight for this issue is around 4.60g (average from 45 examples identified in 2021). The diameter is around 22 mm to 24 mm with a pearl-rand of around 22.5 mm.

For the Constantine follis with SMHT-gamma there are your two examples, two in my collection and one in Nomos Auction 23 (that example having the obverse legend variation CONSTANTINO instead of CONSTANTINVS, which used to be the normal obverse legend form in RIC VI 67).

Constantine and Maximinus have the INVictus title in this issue, while Licinius omits it. Actually, Licinius never took the INVictus title in Heraclea mint.

Details on this emission and the coinage of Heraclea mint from 311-313 you can find in my article in the JNG in 2021 (“The coins with which Maximinus paid for his last fight in Europe - Coinage of the mint of Heraclea from 311 to 313” in Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte, 71. Jahrgang 2021, Munich, p.207-267)

[seth77]

On 11/9/2024 at 9:49 PM, galeriusmaximinus said:

Very nice and interesting coin.

It comes from an emission of the mint of Heraclea in 312, omitted by RIC which struck in 4 officinae for all three emperors Maximinus II, Licinius, and Constantine I. 

The coins are scarce. I know of 45 examples and have in my collection a complete set of all emperors for all officinae (45 is status in early 2021, some more may have appeared since). 

The average weight for this issue is around 4.60g (average from 45 examples identified in 2021). The diameter is around 22 mm to 24 mm with a pearl-rand of around 22.5 mm.

For the Constantine follis with SMHT-gamma there are your two examples, two in my collection and one in Nomos Auction 23 (that example having the obverse legend variation CONSTANTINO instead of CONSTANTINVS, which used to be the normal obverse legend form in RIC VI 67).

Constantine and Maximinus have the INVictus title in this issue, while Licinius omits it. Actually, Licinius never took the INVictus title in Heraclea mint.

Details on this emission and the coinage of Heraclea mint from 311-313 you can find in my article in the JNG in 2021 (“The coins with which Maximinus paid for his last fight in Europe - Coinage of the mint of Heraclea from 311 to 313” in Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte, 71. Jahrgang 2021, Munich, p.207-267)

Is there a way to access this periodical online?

[Heliodromus]

On 11/9/2024 at 5:58 AM, seth77 said:

Historically, this is part of a coinage that asserts the relative peace between the 3 Augusti - Constantine, Licinius and Maximinus II - in 312, much of it likely after Maxentius was already out of the picture. Numismatically, the IOVI type at Heraclea has at least 3 separate issues, that differ in terms of legends and mintmarks, IOVI CONSERVATORI - IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG and HTA - SMHTA -  /A//SMHT throughout the last part of the year. Since Maximinus styles himself Invictus from c. 311, Constantine is probably 'accepted' on coinage struck by Maximinus as Invictus following the defeat of Maxentius.

The INV(ICTVS) honorific at Heracela for Constantine and Maximinus was started by Galerius c.310 AD when Maximinus and Constantine were elevated to augusti (with much arm twisting from Maximinus). Galerius was already severely ill at this point, and it seems this INVICTUS afforded to Constantine and Maximinus was an appeasement reflecting the reality of who was in a stronger position.

After the death of Galerius in 311 AD, Licinius assumed control of Thraciae and the Heraclea mint, and continued with the INV legend for his peers. Licinius doesn't appear to have been very active numismatically, and it's hard to say if this is a passive or active continuation. Licinius eventually drops the INV legend in early 313 AD, while Maximinus is still alive, on occasion of his coinage reform when (apparently in coordination with Constantine) he reduces the weight standard from 1/72lb to 1/96lb (~4.8g to 3.5g) and standardizes his IOVI type across all mints (Siscia, Thessalonica, Heraclea) to have eagle in field and Jupiter holding victory on globe.

Here's my Constantine from this issue (also on Not In RIC).

Edited November 11, 2024 by Heliodromus

[galeriusmaximinus]

There are also some rare solidi of Constantine and Licinius (no Maximinus II in gold found yet from Heraclea mint) which have the SMHT-officina mintmark and a similar Jupiter reverse. They are to be dated slightly later, probably at least late 313. See the reference in my article and pictures of my examples attached.