Classical Numismatics Discussion
  Welcome Guest. Please login or register. All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!! Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities Welcome Guest. Please login or register. Internet challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!! Support Our Efforts To Serve The Classical Numismatics Community - Shop At Forum Ancient Coins

New & Reduced


« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great  (Read 1812 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Spurius Afranius

  • Guest
Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« on: March 29, 2015, 07:21:07 am »
Dear sirs.
I would be so thankful if anybody gives any useful information about the coin of Constantine.
Unfortunately as of now I have only pictures listed in attachment/
Thank you very much in advance
Logged

Offline curtislclay

  • Tribunus Plebis Perpetuus
  • Procurator Monetae
  • Caesar
  • *****
  • Posts: 11155
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2015, 02:17:01 pm »
Looks like RIC VII Ticinum 59, attributed to 316 AD, recorded in two specimens (Vienna, Trivulzio), not illustrated. Legends:

CONSTANTI - NVS P F AVG

VICTORIOSO SEMPER ("Always Victorious"), SMT in exergue
Logged
Curtis Clay

Spurius Afranius

  • Guest
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2015, 03:00:04 pm »
Thank you very much.
The weight of the coin is 4.2 grams (weighted as is). I was promised to submit additional pictures with better quality/
Out of the two examples how many are is museums and in private hands?

Thank you very much again. 
Logged

Offline curtislclay

  • Tribunus Plebis Perpetuus
  • Procurator Monetae
  • Caesar
  • *****
  • Posts: 11155
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2015, 03:08:26 pm »
Vienna is the Austrian national collection.

"Trivulzio" appears to have been a private collector: "Trivulzio, Milan, as referred to by others".
Logged
Curtis Clay

Offline Lech Stępniewski

  • Procurator Caesaris
  • Caesar
  • ****
  • Posts: 2918
    • NOT IN RIC
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2015, 09:23:49 am »
Trivulzio is a noble Italian family. The collection was bought in 1935 by the town of Milan and now is in Pinacoteca del Castello Sforzesco.

The specimen from Vienna is shown here:

http://www.constantinusmagnus.unipg.it/doc_pdf/Bruun.Una%20permanenza%20del%20Sol%20Invictus.pdf

No. 12 (poor picture)

This type is also described in old Akerman's "A Descriptive Catalogue of Rare and Unedited Roman Coins" (vol. II, p. 236, no. 85) with the note "Valued by Mionnet et 200 francs".

Nb. the obverse legend is given (in error?) as CONSTANTINVS AVG, not CONSTANTINVS P F AVG

Logged
Lech Stępniewski
NOT IN RIC
Poland

Spurius Afranius

  • Guest
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2015, 09:30:48 am »
Additional
Logged

Spurius Afranius

  • Guest
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2015, 09:35:21 am »
And more
Logged

Spurius Afranius

  • Guest
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2015, 09:43:35 am »
More
Logged

Offline SC

  • Tribunus Plebis Perpetuus
  • Procurator Monetae
  • Caesar
  • *****
  • Posts: 6068
    • A Handbook of Late Roman Bronze Coin Types 324-395.
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2015, 05:49:50 pm »
Lovely coin.

Interesting that it dates from the height of the era of the bronze SOLI INVICTO COMITI type which portrays Sol standing on reverse with right hand raised and left holding orb.  The portrayal on the obverse of this solidus is very different yet I suspect the gestures may be somewhat related.

Thans for posting so many good images.

Shawn



 
Logged
SC
(Shawn Caza, Ottawa)

Spurius Afranius

  • Guest
Re: Unrecorded Solidus of Constantine the Great
« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2015, 04:34:58 am »
My suggestion the coin was designed by Egyptian christian and/or for purpose to award  the Egyptian Christians.  The portrait of Constantin from the coin is very similar to famous Fayum portraits style and not look a Roman breaching the tradition of Roman imperial portraits.
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
 

All coins are guaranteed for eternity