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Under Gordian III the same coin types were often struck at both Rome and Antioch. One way to distinguish Gordian's coins struck at Antioch from those struck at Rome is the shape of the letter M. On coins from Antioch, M usually resembles a V in the middle of two I's, thus IVI. From the Rome mint, M normally resembles two lambdas, thus ΛΛ.SH15422. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 14, Cohen V 409, Choice aEF, weight 4.580 g, maximum diameter 21.5 mm, die axis 45o, Rome mint, 238 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, from behind; reverse VOTIS / DECENNA / LIBVS in wreath, extremely rare; SOLD
Constantius II, 22 May 337 - 3 November 361 A.D.
Constantius II, unlike his father, allowed Christians to persecute pagans and Jews. Christian clergy inspired angry crowds, which attacked and destroyed synagogues and temples. On 7 May 351, a Jewish revolt broke out in Palestine. The rebels destroyed the Roman garrison in a surprise night attack and acquired the garrison's weapons. The rebels destroyed Diopolis and Tiberias and killed the people of different ethnicities, including Greeks and Samaritans. In 352, Constantius Gallus sent his general (magister equitum) Ursicinus to put down the revolt. Diocesarea, the epicenter of the revolt, was razed to the ground. Ursicinus ordered the execution of thousands of Jews, even children. After the revolt, a permanent garrison was stationed in Galilee.SH98716. Gold solidus, Hunter V p. 317, 86 (also 4th officina); RIC VIII Nicomedia 32 (R3); Depeyrot p. 264 3/4; SRCV V 17738; Cohen VII 108, Choice gVF, well centered, flow lines, scratches, weight 4.423 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 180o, 4th officina, Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) mint, 347 - 15 Mar 351; obverse FL IVL CONSTAN-TIVS PERP AVG, laurel and rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA - REI-PVBLICAE, Roma on left, enthroned facing, helmeted, spear in right hand, Constantinopolis on right, enthroned left, wearing turreted crown, right foot on prow, scepter in left hand, both hold shield inscribed VOT XX MVLT XXX, SMNC in exergue; very rare; SOLD
Constantius II, 22 May 337 - 3 November 361 A.D.
In a religious context, votum, plural vota, is a vow or promise made to a deity. The word comes from the past participle of voveo, vovere; as the result of the verbal action "vow, promise", it may refer also to the fulfillment of this vow, that is, the thing promised. The votum is thus an aspect of the contractual nature of Roman religion, a bargaining expressed by do ut des, "I give that you might give."RS79818. Silver siliqua, RIC VIII Antioch 35 (R2), RSC V 338A, SRCV V 17925, Hunter V -, Cohen VII -, EF, well centered, toned, nice surfaces with a few light marks, weight 3.152 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 30o, Antioch mint, c. 340 - 342 A.D.; obverse pearl-diademed head right, with eyes raised to heaven, no legend; reverse VOTIS / XV / MVLTIS / XX in four lines within laurel wreath with jewel at the top, tied at the bottom, ANT in exergue; very rare; SOLD
Constans, 9 September 337 - 19 January 350 A.D.
"OB" means "on account of," is an abbreviation for the word obryzum, which means refined or pure gold, and is the Greek numeral 72. Thus the legend may be read, "on account of our celebration of our triumph" or it may use the multiple meanings and read "1/72 pound pure gold for the celebration of our triumph." The Romans found the use of double meanings clever. We believe the choice of this legend was intended to be clever.SH08818. Gold solidus, RIC VIII Siscia 114, Cohen -, Choice EF, weight 4.46 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 180o, Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) mint, 342 A.D.; obverse FL IVL CONS-TANS P F AVG, laurel and rosette diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse OB VICTORIAN TRIVMPHALEM, two Victories standing facing center, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT X MVL XX, SIS* in exergue; beautifully centered and struck with no sign of circulation or wear, would be MS except for digger's mark across lower reverse; very rare (R3); SOLD
Theodosius I, 19 January 379 - 17 January 395 A.D.
On 24 November 380, Theodosius I made his adventus, or formal entry, into Constantinople.SH37592. Gold solidus, RIC IX Constantinopolis 70(b)1, Depeyrot 48/4, SRCV V 20398, Cohen VIII 10, choice VF, weight 4.348 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 387 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CONCORDIA AVGGG A (harmony among our three emperors, 1st officina), Constantinopolis seated facing on throne, her helmeted head right, right leg bare, right foot on prow, long grounded scepter in right hand, shield inscribed VOT V MVLT X in left hand supported on the left arm of the throne, each arm of the throne ornamented with a lion head, CONOB in exergue; ex Baldwin's (London); rare; SOLD
Constans, 9 September 337 - 19 January 350 A.D.
"OB" means "on account of," is an abbreviation for obryzum (refined or pure gold), and is the Greek numeral 72. Thus the reverse legend may read, "on account of our celebration of our triumph" or, using the multiple meanings, "1/72 pound pure gold for the celebration of our triumph." The Romans were amused by double entendres and puns. The double meanings were almost certainly a clever intention.SH43072. Gold solidus, RIC VIII Siscia 115, Cohen -, VF, weight 4.431 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 180o, Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) mint, 342 A.D.; obverse FL IVL CONS-TANS P F AVG, laurel and rosette diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse OB VICTORIAM TRIVMPHALEM, two Victories standing facing center, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT X MVL XX, SIS* in exergue; well centered; rare (R2); SOLD
Constantius II, 22 May 337 - 3 November 361 A.D.
In 354, Constantius II recalled his legate (and cousin) Constantius Gallus to Constantinople after receiving unfavorable reports about him. Caesar of the East, Gallus had successfully suppressed revolts in Palestine and central Anatolia. Constantius stripped him of his rank and later had him executed in Pola (in modern Croatia).SH70831. Gold solidus, Depeyrot 6/3, RIC VIII Antioch 81 var. (unlisted officina), VF, digs and scratches on obverse, weight 4.225 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 0o, 10th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, late 347 - 355 A.D.; obverse FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA REI-PVBLICAE, Roma on left, enthroned facing, holding spear; Constantinopolis on right, enthroned half-left, right foot on prow, scepter in left; both hold shield inscribed VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX in four lines; SMANI in ex; ex CNG auction 306, lot 431; ex Kelly J. Krizan M.D. Collection; rare; SOLD
Theodosius II, 10 January 402 - 28 July 450 A.D.
The solidus weighed 1/72 of the Roman pound. "OB" was both an abbreviation for the word obryzum, which means refined or pure gold, and is the Greek numeral 72. Thus the exergue of this coin may be read "1/72 pound pure gold." -- "Byzantine Coinage" by Philip GriersonSH62359. Gold solidus, RIC X Theodosius II 257, aEF, graffiti on obverse, weight 4.469 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 180o, 3rd officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 430 - 440 A.D.; obverse D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted bust facing, pearl diademed, cuirassed, spear in right over shoulder, shield decorated with a horseman riding down enemy on his left arm; reverse VOT XXX MVLT XXXX Γ, Constantinopolis enthroned left, globus cruciger in right hand, scepter in left hand, foot on a prow, left elbow resting on shield, star right, CONOB in exergue; SOLD
Constantius II, 22 May 337 - 3 November 361 A.D.
SH15382. Gold solidus, RIC VIII Arles 238, attractive aVF, weight 4.000 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 0o, Constantia-Arelatum (Arles, France) mint, 355 - 360 A.D.; obverse FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG, helmeted, diademed and cuirassed facing bust, spear in right over shoulder, shield on left arm; reverse GLORIA REI-PVBLICAE, Roma and Constantinopolis enthroned, holding wreath with VOT XXX MVLT XXXX in four lines, */KONSTAN (Constantia) in exergue (TAN in monogram); graffiti in obverse fields, graffiti on the right may be a standard with the ensign marked X or XX; rare (R3); SOLD
Decentius, Caesar, July or August 350 - 18 August 353 A.D.
A key coin for collecting a set of all Roman mints. The mint at Amiens was established by Magnentius in the middle of 350 A.D. Only one officina was established and all coins were billon. The mint was closed in 354 A.D. and never opened again.SH06936. Billon maiorina, RIC VIII Amiens 10 (R), Bastien MM 110, SRCV V 18876, Cohen VIII 33, LRBC II -, EF, sharp, beautiful patina, weight 4.77 g, maximum diameter 23.5 mm, die axis 45o, Ambianum (Amiens, France) mint, Jul/Aug 350 - 18 Aug 353 A.D.; obverse D N DECENTIVS NOB CAES, cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAES (victories of our lords, Emperor and Caesar), two Victories holding shield inscribed VOT V MVLT X, AMB in exergue; from the Scott Collection; rare; SOLD