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Constantine? Contantius? Spock?

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SC:
In the 324-330 period Arelate seems to have annual marks, but likely not tied to the calendar year (at least 325-330).  Alexandria appears to have annual marks. 

Annual marks are possible for the 341-348 period at Aquileia and Siscia where we have 7 marks for this period.  The may seem odd given the period covers 8 years, but with FTR starting by April 348, and possibly being required in high volumes for the 11 April 348 1100th anniversary of Rome celebrations, it is possible that the types of 341-348 actually ceased to be struck at the end of 347 or that a mark was briefly retained from the previous year knowing production would soon stop.

There is clearly no regular pattern for 348-363, but the regularity really comes into play with the Valentinianic GLORIA ROMANORVM and SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE types of 364-378.  Lugdunum appears to have a system that breaks down to 3 marks most years with only two marks for a couple of years.  Lanyi's study of Siscia shows three marks per year starting mid-366 and lasting until early 376.  Vasic's study shows Thessalonica having four per year from mid-367 to the end of 375.  Constantinople appears to have one per year outside the disruption of Procopius.

It is harder to be sure in the 381-388 period but a bunch of the mints have mint marks that are either equal to the number of years or twice the number of years for key periods.  But it is less certain.  There is the possibility of annual periods not tied to the calendar year.

SC

Heliodromus:

--- Quote ---In the 324-330 period Arelate seems to have annual marks, but likely not tied to the calendar year (at least 325-330).
--- End quote ---

Perhaps 325-330, but the only way that would seem to fit would be:

324 P*ARIncludes Constantius II, made caesar in November 324324 P*AR dot324 ARL :Greek_Alpha:- :Greek_Delta:Rare unlisted issue with greek officina, and laureate bust for Constantine. No S-F, so maybe fits best here325 PA :crescent: RL326 PARL S-F327 ARLP S-FStart of diademed busts (both laureate + diademed in this issue), Includes unlisted VOT XXX. Do these align with 327 date ?328 PCONST S-F329 PCONST T-FIncludes Helena. Still alive in 329 ?330 PCONSTOnly issue this year ?
So we've got P*AR still in use in November 324, and then have to fit in two more issues before year end to make this work, else multiple issues in 325 then annual issues possible 326-330 (or 326-329).

Helena alive in 329 may be late but not impossible - would have to check other evidence.

The only solid dating landmarks we have are at the beginning (Constantius II caesar) and end (start of post-dedication Constantinopolis/etc commemoratives), but just because the number of issues may be equal to the number of years (at least for 326-329/330) doesn't mean that's how they were spaced. Certainly before 324-325, and after (maybe including) 330 they don't appear to have been annual, so from that perspective there's no incentive to assume they were annual for those intervening years.

It's also interesting to note that a couple of these issues marks may include extended periods of coining with some intermediate changes being made. The ARLP S-F mark includes a bust change from laureate to diademed. The PCONST T-F includes a bust change from diademed to diademed and draped, as well as (in the draped phase) a reverse legend change from PROV./VIRTVS AVGG to AVG.

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