RIC VII, ROME [after 43], CONSTANTINE I, UNLISTED ISSUE [VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP]

7-022

OBVERSE

CONSTAN-TINVSAVG [CONSTANTINVS AVG]; bust r., laur. helmet, cuir.

REVERSE

VICTORIAELAETAEPRINCPERP [VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP]; two Victories facing one another, holding shield inscribed VOT/X over altar. PR in exergue.

NOT IN RIC

UNLISTED ISSUE. Depeyrot 18/2. Published in Cohen, vol. VII, p. 304, no. 641. Specimen was known to both authors of RIC VI and RIC VII. However, Bruun in RIC VII assumes that this coin belongs to RIC VI: "In addition VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP/VOT X coins were created for the quinquennalia, 31 March 311/312" (p. 281). Note that Bruun believed at that time that the battle of Milvian Bridge happened in 311. On the other hand, Sutherland in RIC VI mentions in "Addenda" (p. 688): "The solidus with rev. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP/VOT X, given by Bruun (R.I.C. vii, p. 281) to the period 312-313, is correctly dated by M. Alföldi (C.G. 648) to 315" (time when Constantine was celebrating his decennalia in Rome). As a result, coin is not listed neither in RIC VI nor in RIC VII, but probably should be listed after ROME 43.
See also:
ROME [after 43], LICINIUS I, UNLISTED ISSUE [VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP]

NOTES

Solidus. Weight 4.42 g. Coin sold on A. Tkalec AG auction in February 2001 for $8,382; sold on Classical Numismatic Group auction in January 2003 for $7,500; sold on Gemini, LLC auction in January 2007 for $18,000.
Other specimens:
- specimen from the British Museum Collection (reg. no. R.158; weight 4.62 g; obv. legend break A-N [click for picture];
- specimen offered on Leu auction in May 1985; offered on Numismatica Ars Classica auction in February 2001; weight 4.11 g; obv. legend break A-N [click for picture];
- specimen from Bellinger, A. R., Bruun, P., Kent, J. P. C., Sutherland, C. H. V., "Late Roman Gold and Silver Coins at Dumbarton Oaks: Diocletian to Eugenius", Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 18 (1964), p. 179, no. 44; weight 4.618 g; obv. legend break A-N [click for picture];
- specimen sold on Künker auction in March 2011 for EUR 4,700; weight 4.55 g; obv. legend break A-N [click for picture].