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Author Topic: Constantinus mint mark?  (Read 440 times)

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Offline Flav V

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Constantinus mint mark?
« on: January 18, 2023, 09:39:58 am »
Hello,

This coin shows CON TANTINI MAX AVG. There is remains of letter S visible as little dot. It is a die break. But the mint mark is? TS? Your opinion? It seems there is a die break on the mark too and the letter S look like an E. Do you read the officina?

Offline Curtis JJ

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2023, 09:52:04 am »
Yes, the mintmark has to begin TS, I believe. The question is what the next letter is. TS(?)VI.

I would probably call this an example of RIC 123 (i.e., RIC VII, Thessalonica 123) [LINK] on OCRE. I haven't looked up what the hard copy vol. says, but OCRE shows four officina marks for 123:
TSAVI, TSBVI, TSΓVI, and TS∈VI. (I guess no Delta?)

On a related note: I'm not sure what's different about RIC 101 and RIC 123? Same legends, devices, headwear, exergue? [LINK] on OCRE. Perhaps this one could actually be called 101, not 123??
“Collect the collectors…” John W Adams’ advice to J Orosz (Asylum 38, 2: p51)

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Offline maridvnvm

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2023, 10:18:19 am »
The shape of the middle letter looks likely to be an E

Offline Lech Stępniewski

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2023, 10:47:02 am »
Quote from: Curtis JJ on January 18, 2023, 09:52:04 am
On a related note: I'm not sure what's different about RIC 101 and RIC 123? Same legends, devices, headwear, exergue? [LINK] on OCRE. Perhaps this one could actually be called 101, not 123??

Bruun assumes that THESSALONICA 101 belongs to the earlier stage of production when only officina gamma minted coins for Constantine. But also claims that "it is almost impossible to determine exactly which of the TS  :Greek_Gamma: VI coins belong to this issue". So coin from officina gamma could be THESSALONICA 101 or THESSALONICA 123. But in this case (officina  :Greek_epsilon: ) it could be only THESSALONICA 123.

Lech Stępniewski
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Offline Flav V

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2023, 11:43:54 am »
TES is not possible?

Offline Curtis JJ

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2023, 12:08:09 pm »
TES is not possible?
I don't think so, not for Constantine I (as far as I know). There are many bronze coins with TES- mintmarks for his sons Constantius II & Constans, and for Vetranio, Julian II, Jovian and so on. (Also AR medallions/multiples and AV Solidi.) But I believe TES began only AFTER the death of Constantine I.

If I'm wrong, someone correct me.
“Collect the collectors…” John W Adams’ advice to J Orosz (Asylum 38, 2: p51)

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Offline Lech Stępniewski

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2023, 12:59:32 pm »
TES is not possible?

No. Only  :Greek_Alpha:  :Greek_Beta:  :Greek_Gamma:  :Greek_Delta: (unlisted in RIC) and  :Greek_epsilon:

 :Greek_epsilon: is most likely.
Lech Stępniewski
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Offline Flav V

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2023, 02:57:10 am »
Therefore it is a die break on the S and blocked on E... Thats not common.

Offline Frans Diederik

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Re: Constantinus mint mark?
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2023, 05:29:01 am »
As for rarity: I have 7 specimens of 123 two of the A officina and seven of e\ :Greek_epsilon:

Frans

 

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