The
good point is that
WildWinds is fully illustrated and
OCRE is mostly illustrated. So look carefully at the picture, compare with description and then consult RIC.
For example.
https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_arles_RIC_VII_138var.jpg [there is something unexpected with links, so please copy THE WHOLE link and paste to your browser]
This coin is on
WildWinds described as follows:
"
Constantine I, AE
follis.
Arles. 317 AD.
IMP CONSTANTINVS PF
AVG, laureate, draped,
cuirassed bust right. /
SOLI INV-I-CTO
COMITI,
Sol standing right,
head left,
chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe and raising right hand. R-S across fields.
Mintmark PARL.
RIC VII Arles 138
var (
officina). Unlisted
officina for this issue."
This description is almost correct, but if you consult RIC (
vol.
VII, p. 247) you will see that RIC lists for this
type officinae P, S, and T - and P is the most common one.
Another example from
WildWindshttps://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_antioch_RIC_VI_166var.jpg
Description:
"
Constantine I, AE
follis,
Antioch. AD 312.
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate
bust left, wearing
trabea (imperial mantle), holding globe in left hand,
mappa in right hand /
IOVI CON-SERVATORI AVGG,
Jupiter standing left,
chlamys over left shoulder, falling low behind, holding
Victory on globe and
sceptre. Star-S across fields.
Mintmark ANT.
RIC VI Antioch 166
var (obv
legend and
bust type, and
rev. legend)."
This coin is in fact unlisted but assumption that with different legends and
bust type it is variety of "
RIC VI Antioch 166" is ridiculous. Actually, it belongs to
RIC VII and should be listed before
ANTIOCH 24 (which is a similar
type listed for
Licinius I).
And the last example (note: all examples are
Constantine, "A" mints, and coins marked as
var.)
https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_antioch_RIC_VII_079_var.jpgDescription
Constantine I AE17
follis.
Antioch, AD 331 and 333-334.
CONSTANTINVS AVG, laurel and square rosette-diademed
head right. /
PROVIDENTIAE AVGG,
campgate with 11 layers, two turrets, no door,
star above, dot in doorway (possibly simply a centering mark). Δ-E across fields.
Mintmark SMANT.
RIC VII Antioch 79
var (headwear).
But in
RIC VII one can easily find (p. 691) that in this case dot in doorway is NOT a centering mark and this coin is not "
RIC VII Antioch 79
var (headwear)" but regular
RIC VII ANTIOCH 81.