Constantinople Mint Officina

[LordBest]

Can anyone here tell me how many Officina there were in Constantinople mint at its peak, with dates? And also how many officina are known to have minted Julian II AE1s
                                      LordBest.

[vercingetorix]

In the byzantine empire Constantinople had 5 officina.

[*Alex]

Hi LB

CONSTANTINOPOLIS:
This mint opened with only two officinae, but after the deaths of Crispus and Fausta, a third was added. At the New Year, 327, the number of officinae in use was seven.
Finally, when the GLORIA EXERCITUS coinage began, soon after the Dedication of the city in May 330 A.D., a total of eleven officinae was employed.
The eleven officinae for bronze continued for the period 346-360 A.D., when these were reduced to four under Julian II and Jovian. In the first issue for Valentinian and Valens this was increased to five and in the second issue to seven. For the remainder of the century the number fluctuated between seven and four, but from the early fifth century onwards the officinae did not normally sign their products. In the case of some issues between 383 and 392 the officinae were differentiated for the various rulers. Regretably I don't know anything about the Byzantine period. Four officinae minted AE1's for Julian II. Other mint-marks for Julian II AE1's are as follows (The examples below use A which is for the first officina, but the additions, which are chronological, can be added to any of the officinae.)
CONSPA  
(pellet)CONSPA(pellet)
(pellet)CONSPA(laurel-branch)(pellet)
(laurel-branch)CONSPA(laurel-branch)
I hope that's not been too heavy going!!!  

D.A.  

[Rugser]

In the Cohen for IULIANUS II reads: CONSM;  
M=mi= 12 letter of the Greek alphabet.

ser

[*Alex]

Hi Serge,

Might be a coin struck before Julian reduced the officina number. I am using LRBC, which clearly states four officinae for the striking of bronze. Possibly Cohen is in error, several errors have been discovered in the time since Cohen was printed.

D.A.  

[LordBest]

Thanks,now-know-how-many-examples-f-Constantinople-Ae1s-ill-have-to-get-to-have-the-complete-officina-set.  
LordBest.

[Rugser]

divvs..

Reported  to the bronzes  AE1s for IVLIANVS II exists:

D/ D.N. CL. IVLIANVS N. C.
R/ VIRTVS AVG. N.      in ex. CONZ
 (Julian  to r., holding branch of laurel and standard,  place the r. foot on the shoulders of a sat captive).

ser

[*Alex]

Hi again,

The only AE1 type for Julian II mentioned in LRBC is the SECVRITAS REIPVB type with the bull. Perhaps the coin you mention is a rare type. Again, LRBC says officinae were reduced to four under Julian II in connection with his reform of the bronze coinage in 363, but it is certainly possible that the eleven officinae struck coins for Julian for a short period before the reduction. Only four officinae struck the SECVRITAS REIPVB. bull type, however. To further add to the confusion, Arles struck SECVRITAS REIPVB AE1's for Julian II with the mint-marks (P)CON; (P)CONST; and (P)CONST(pellet). The (P)CON mint-mark might also be followed by a control letter or symbol. Arles had three officinae striking for Julian, so the first letter of the mint-mark, (in brackets) could also be an S or a T.  Therefore Serge's coin could even be a product of Arles rather than Constantinople, particularly if the mint-mark was unclear. Confusing? No?  

D.A.  

[Rugser]

The coin from me named  is to the n. 70 of the Cohen.
It is a rare coin.
I would have like that anybody verifies it on the RIC.....this could give a contribution to the discussion.

ser