RIC VII, CONSTANTINOPLE [after 53], ANONYMOUS, UNLISTED ISSUE [STAR OF EIGHT RAYS]

OBVERSE	ANEPIGRAPHIC (no legend); star of eight rays ending in pellets.
REVERSE	ANEPIGRAPHIC (no legend); laurel wreath.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED ISSUE. Half siliqua or one third siliqua. Minted probably in spring 330 for the celebrations of the official dedication of Constantinople (11 May 330). The symbolic meaning of an eight-rayed star and a laurel wreath (corona triumphalis) is uncertain. See: Bendall, S., "An anonymous Constantinian coinage", Numismatic Fine Arts Inc. Journal 1986, no. 32, pp. 2-3; Bendall, S., "Some comments on the anonymous silver coinage of the fourth to sixth centuries A.D.", Revue Numismatique 2002, no. 158, pp. 139-159. Coin should be listed after CONSTANTINOPLE 53. See also: CONSTANTINOPLE [after 53], ANONYMOUS, UNLISTED Æ ISSUE [STAR OF EIGHT RAYS]

NOTES

AR fraction. Weight 1.24 g. Sold on Classical Numismatic Group auction in September 2004 for $1,250. Other specimens: - specimen sold on Classical Numismatic Group auction in September 2002 for $820; sold on Classical Numismatic Group auction in January 2011 (Triton XIV) for $1,700; weight 1.30 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - specimen sold on Classical Numismatic Group auction in September 2001 for $575; weight 1.30 g [click for picture]; - specimen sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction in April 2006 for $1,241; weight 1.20 g [click for picture]; - specimen sold on eBay in January 2006 for $668; weight 0.90 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - coin shown on the 1003rd meeting of the Chicago Coin Club in July 2002 - from Mark Wieclaw's collection [click for picture]; - specimen sold on eBay in July 2007 for $250, now in Brent Upchurch's collection; weight 0.83 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - specimen sold on Gorny & Mosch auction in March 2006 for $547; weight 1.48 g [click for picture]; - specimen sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction in May 2007 for $821; weight 1.20 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - specimen sold on Gorny & Mosch auction in March 2005 for $857; weight 1.61 g [click for picture]; - specimen sold on eBay in March 2009 for $327.40 [click for picture]; - specimen sold on eBay in December 2008 for $389.43; weight 1.46 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - specimen from the Rick Morton Collection [click for picture].