FEL TEMP - Hut ot Day

[maridvnvm]

I haven't shared much as a CotDay recently. I thought that this one was worth on a couple of counts.

The FEL TEMP huts coins of Constantius II are scarcer than those of Constans. This one is a quite nice example from Rome and was produced on an over-size flan. The lack of metal in certain areas (shoulder and arm on obverse and top of reverse legend) has meant that these were not fully struck. It's still a quite pleasing example.

Constantius II

Obv:- D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust left holding globe,
Rev:- FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points up and to the right
Minted in Rome; (//R*S)
Reference:– RIC VIII Rome 139 (R)

Weight 3.58g. 24.54mm. 180 degrees

Martin

[quadrans]

Nice find, Martin, 

 Q.

[gb29400]

nice find Martin,

your coin is from Constantius II not Constans as in your description.

here my Constans from Rome


D N CONSTA - NS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust left holding globe,
R/  FEL TEMP REPA - RATIO, Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points up and to the right
in ex R*S
AE Maiorina, Rome, 348-350; 20 mm /  3.50 g
RIC VIII Rome 140

[Randygeki(h2)]

Great coin Martin! I only have one of Constans

[maridvnvm]

I have a scruffy Constans version of my OP coin:-



I have a couple of Constans from the same issue as yours too.
(RE)

(RT)

[quadrans]

Great staff, 

Q.

[stevex6]

Alas, I just sold my only hut-coin ... it was a lowly Constans (wanna see it?)

Curious, Martin => where is this rodent of the sea hut-coin from?

[okidoki]

great catch Martin

[maridvnvm]

Steve,
You is/was from Constantinople. The style alone is one tell but the fact that there is a Gamma in the upper left field is unique to Constantinople for this series.

Here is mine from the same issue.

Obv:– D N CONSTANS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding globe
Rev:– Helmeted soldier, spear in left hand, advancing right, head left; with his right hand he leads a small bare-headed figure from a hut beneath a tree. The spear points downwards, between the soldier's legs
Minted in Constantinople (G //CONSI*).
Reference:- RIC VIII Constantinople 92



It was preceded by an issue without the Gamma. Here are a couple of RIC VIII Constantinople 88 s of mine.

[stevex6]

Thanks Martin ...

Oh, I forgot that I still have this cool hut-example as well (an amazing double-struck reverse)

 

[Carausius]

Steve - that's one of the best double strikes I've ever seen!  It almost looks intentional in execution because it's so balanced and well centered.  Wonderful coin!

[stevex6]

Thanks man ... I appreciate the coin kudos (you have great coins as well, my friend)

Cheers

 

[maridvnvm]

I have just obtained another Constantius Hut from the same issue. This time it is an unlisted officina (R * B), It is listed for Constans but not for Constantius.

The coin suffers from a double strike but with a trivial bit of phot editing this double strike can be removed to see what the coin should have looked like.

Martin

[stevex6]

Sweet => hey Martin, congrats on grabbing that neat double-strike (oh, and I like your photo-skills associated with putting Humpty Dumpty back together again)

 

Cheers, coin-bro

[maridvnvm]

Thanks Steve,
I must admit that one thing that is doing my head in is trying to figure out the striking process that actually happened here to create this double strike.
Any thoughts from anyone would be gratefully received.
Regards,
Martin

[curtislclay]

Martin,

The first strike reproduced the entire rev. design.

The second strike, after a small shift of the die to the left or right, was deeper on one side than the other, so only replaced half of the original strike with its own shifted image, while not affecting the other half. A vertical line between the double R at the top and the double star in the exergue divides the areas of the type produced by the first strike on the one hand and the second strike on the other.

I don't find it easy to decide, however, which half of the design derives from the first strike and which from the second strike!

[maridvnvm]

Curtis,
Many thanks. That makes sense. So two strong strikes, the second being eneven. with a slight lateral shift of the dies in between strikes.
Regards,
Martin