Constans or Constantius II

[Muzz]

I cant figure out who this coin belongs to.  Sorry about the bad scan but the info is as follows -

Obverse legend - CONSTANTINVS PF AVG (or similar)

Revers Type - Two Victories standing with wreath and palm.

EXE- SMTS?

The problem is that both Constans and Constantius II both seem to have the same type, including the palm between the victories.  How do I decide where it belongs?

[Steve Minnoch]

You can deduce some information from the length of the legend.  On this coin you can see clearly it begins CONSTA (no D N or FL IVL at the beginning of the legend) and seems to have only room for maybe 2 more letters on the left of the bust, and maybe 5-6 on the right.  From that I'd conclude that Constans is more likely, as his name is so much shorter, and that CONSTANS - P F AVG was the most likely of the obverse legends used.  If you are sure about the mint being Thessalonica I'd be more certain -  it would have to have 5 letters in the exergue for this type (SMTSA, SMTSB, Γ, Δ or Ε).

Steve

[mdelvalle]

Hi Muzz, I agree again with Steve, I believe the legend of the obverse is CONSTANS-PFAVG and the bust would seem to be laurel + rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed, in this case is RIC VIII Thessalonica 105, rarity S, and in the exerge alone could have (according to Helvetica's spreadsheet) SMTS A, B or 

Saludos
Mario

[Muzz]

Thanks to you both, the Exerge is SMTSA.

By the way, I dont have RIC so S means Scarce?

Murray

[mdelvalle]

yes scarce