RIC VII, NICOMEDIA 164, CONSTANTIUS I, Æ TRIAL PIECE

OBVERSE	FLVALCONSTANTIVSNOBCAES [FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES]; head r., laur.
REVERSE	[no legend]; emperor stg. facing, head l., in quadriga, raising r. hand, eagle-tipped sceptre in l. hand.
NOT IN RIC	Æ TRIAL PIECE. Reverse similar to rev. of NICOMEDIA 164, CONSTANTINUS I, Æ TRIAL PIECE (probably the same die). It suggests that specimen was made around 330. Obverse similar to RIC VI NICOMEDIA 28a or NICOMEDIA 30a, which were minted 35 years earlier! Could it be the first stage in the preparation of an unknown commemorative issue for Constantius I, father of ConstantineI? See also: NICOMEDIA 164, CONSTANTINUS I, Æ TRIAL PIECE

NOTES

Weight 9.18 g. Coin offered on Gorny & Mosch auction in October 2009 for EUR 400.