I have developed an interest in the
FEL TEMP REPARATIO series of
LRBs. Every now and then I see something unusual that grabs my attention. This is one such minor detail that I thought noteworthy enough to bring to the attention of the wider community.
There are various sub-types of horseman that are well documented such as reaching, clutching, sitting etc. There are sub-types within these sub-types such as helmeted, bare headed etc. The following seems to be a variation within the reaching sub-type. I am not claiming it to be a new sub-type just thought it interesting enough to mention.
The coin in question is a
Constantius II issue from the early, large sized Gamma issue from
Antioch with a reaching horseman.
Here is an example of the more usual portrayal of the horseman. Look at the
arm reaching towards the emperor. The are is almost straight and the
palm is turned towards the emperor (the fingers curve away from the horseman) in what I think of as a somewhat plaintive way as the emperor is about to drive
his spear downwards.
Constantius II -
AE2Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS
P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped,
cuirassed,
bust right
Rev:–
FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Helmeted soldier to left,
shield on left
arm, spearing falling horseman;
shield on ground at right. Horseman is bearded and falls forward reaching towards emperor (
type FH3)
Minted in
Antioch (Gamma _ //ANS). A.D. 350-355
Reference:-
RIC VIII,
Antioch 132.
Mere is my new coin. Here the
arm is different. The elbow is bent to about 90 degrees and the
palm is turned back towards the horseman (curvature of the fingers) giving quite a different look. I haven't noted this bent
arm on any of my other examples.
Constantius II -
AE2 Obv:– D N CONSTANTIVS
P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped,
cuirassed,
bust right
Rev:–
FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Helmeted soldier to left,
shield on left
arm, spearing falling horseman;
shield on ground at right. Horseman is bearded and falls forward reaching towards emperor (
type FH3)
Minted in
Antioch (Gamma _ //ANH). A.D. 350-355
Reference:-
RIC VIII,
Antioch 132.
Nothing of real interest but just a small detail that caught my eye and drew me to this coin.
Regards,
Martin