Author Topic: Constans/Galley COTD (Read 3196 times)

quadrans · « **on:** March 11, 2017, 06:37:51 pm »

Constans/Galley COTD

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-135716

146 Constans (333-337 A.D. Caesar, 337-350 A.D. Augustus), Cyzicus, RIC VIII 066, -/-//SMKA, AE-2 Follis, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Galley, Rare !,

Regards

Q.

Akropolis · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2017, 08:47:01 pm »

WOW!!
PeteB

Jay GT4 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2017, 10:42:06 pm »

Fantastic Q

maridvnvm · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2017, 05:46:30 am »

Wow indeed. Superb.

quadrans · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2017, 07:43:58 am »

Thank you PeteB, Jay and Martin

Regards
Q.

SC · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2017, 10:11:36 am »

Fantastic coin!

But look carefully at what is going on. Cyzicus, and indeed all Eastern mints, should show the Emperor on the galley holding a phoenix. They didn't use the Western variant where the Emperor holds a Victoriola - small statue of Victory holding wreath.

But yours appears to be a mix. there is clearly a phoenix. You can see the halo around its head. Yet there are faint traces of a tiny arm holding up a small wreath.

The coin is worthy of more study but I see two possibilities that should be explored. They are just guesses at this point.

First, it might have been a simple engravers error. Started with a victory and changed to a phoenix. But if Cyzicus and the Eastern mints only do the phoenix why would anyone accidentally start with a victory? Maybe an engraver newly transferred from the West???

Second possibility, it is the result of the die maker hubbing a Western coin. Die hubbing is where you force a blank die onto a completed coin to try to get the outline of the design. This acts as a guide for engraving the new coin and ensures that new new die is very close to the old one.

Shawn

quadrans · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2017, 02:25:37 pm »

High Shawn,

Interesting idea..

If I magnify something really visible as "...wreat" hmm, may be engraver error..

Regards

Q.

maridvnvm · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2017, 02:51:55 pm »

Or perhaps a die break from one of the points on the "halo".
Martin

quadrans · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2017, 02:58:08 pm »

Yes Martin, also is possible..

I try to prepare a magnify picture but not easy to make a final conclusion ...

Regards
Q.

Randygeki(h2) · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2017, 03:28:57 pm »

An excellent example!

quadrans · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2017, 03:48:03 pm »

Thank you Randy..

Q.

Canaan · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2017, 06:31:23 am »

I hope I am not intruding but I wanted to post my example for comparison reasons because the style of mine is completely different than Quadrans coin!!!!

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-132547

quadrans · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:13:21 am »

Hi Canaan,

It is true your coin are different, and I hope different RIC No too because over the Victory your coin have star..., but mine not...

I will control your RIC No If I where at home...

Regards
Q.

Canaan · « **Reply #13 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:23:10 am »

Thanks Quadrans I think it is RIC VIII Nicomedia 64 !!! Sorry

quadrans · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:25:28 am »

Q.

gallienus1 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:37:03 am »

You have an superb coin there Q! Constans has all the dignity and power of an early imperial portrait, and yet it is rendered in the late ancient style with its stark simplicity and haunting, exaggerated eyes.

In this late ancient style things that tend to naturally appear irregular, like strands of human hair or the folding of a garment, are given a stark regularity that gives that strange "other worldly" impression that is so arresting to a modern viewer. Add to that the wonderful state of preservation and intricate detail, it is a coin any collector of Late Imperials would dearly love to own.

The coin deserves to be one of those "plate" coins we see in the best references as an outstanding example of the type.

Congratulations my friend,

P.S.

You example is also a nice one Canaan. Not museum quality like quadrans coin but still a very nice example. I particularly like the bold stance of the emperor standing on the prow of the galley on the reverse. It makes an interesting counterpoint to Victory behind him, faithfully steering the Ship of State under the emperors direction to another Imperial Victory. It gives the reverse design a strong dynamic appeal.

Steve

quadrans · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2017, 06:15:57 pm »

Hi Steve,

Thank you again your great explanation (as always

)

Your viewpoint is always a little different than the others, and I like it

Regards

Q.

SC · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:31:49 pm »

You are right Martin. Could just be a die break which is coincidentally in the right place. I thought the right part of the halo was thicker and might have been where the arm was. But not sure now. Sometimes you stare too long and start seeing things...

Anyway beautiful coin.

SC

quadrans · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2017, 03:38:43 pm »

Thank you Shawn

Q.

maridvnvm · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2017, 03:52:39 pm »

I have developed a liking for these galleys. I must try and hold out got nice ones.

Constans - AE2

Obv:- D N CONSTANS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
Rev:- FEL TEMP-REPARATIO, emperor in military dress standing left on galley, holding Phoenix and labarum, Victory sitting at the stern, steering the ship
Minted in Aquileia; (//AQP dot), A.D. 348-350
Reference:– RIC VIII Aquileia 99 (C)

Constans - AE2

Obv:- DN CONSTA-NS PF AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right,
Rev:- FEL TEMP-REPARATIO, emperor in military dress standing left on galley, holding Phoenix on globe and labarum, Victory sitting at the stern, steering the ship
Minted in Arles; (//SARL), A.D. 348-350
Reference:– RIC VIII Arles 100 (C)