Follis¹, zecca di Costantinopoli, 330 d. C.², RIC VIII 21 (pag. 448), indice di rarità "C3"

Descrizione sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le parti della leggenda usurate o comunque illeggibili):
D. POP-ROMANVS³. Il Genio del Popolo Romano, busto laureato e paludato a sinistra, cornucopia sulla spalla sinistra.
R. Ponte tra due torri, eretto tra due basamenti tra i quali scorre la corrente fluviale. In alto, segno di zecca CONS/H⁴ .

La ricerca nel web di monete simili a quella di figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:

1. http://www.beastcoins.com/RomanImperial/VIII/Constantinople/Z7249.jpg Anonymous Issue during the reign of Constantine, AE 4, 330, Constantinopolis, Officina 8 POP ROMANVS Laureate, draped bust of the Genius of the Roman People left, cornucopia on left shoulder (No legend) Milvian (?) Bridge with towers with three round objects on top at each end, waves and pylons (?) below CONS / H in center field 13mm x 14mm, 1.22g RIC VIII, 21; Vagi 3043 Ex Rich Pearlman Note: David Vagi asserts this issue has a higher silver content than other billon issues of the same era and were probably distribution pieces for the consecration ceremony at Constantinople. Research Notes:  There is still much debate as to which bridge is depicted on the reverse.  The traditional identification has been the Milvian Bridge. Topical Collection - Architecture: Bridges Anonymous Issue during the reign of Constantine, AE 4, 330, Constantinopolis, Officina 8 POP ROMANVS Laureate, draped bust of the Genius of the Roman People left, cornucopia on left shoulder (No legend) Milvian (?) Bridge with towers with three round objects on top at each end, waves and pylons (?) below CONS / H in center field 13mm x 14mm, 1.22g RIC VIII, 21; Vagi 3043 Ex Rich Pearlman Note: David Vagi asserts this issue has a higher silver content than other billon issues of the same era and were probably distribution pieces for the consecration ceremony at Constantinople. Research Notes:  There is still much debate as to which bridge is depicted on the reverse.  The traditional identification has been the Milvian Bridge. The Milvian Bridge is where Constantine the Great and Maxentius battled in 312.  The bridge is part of the Via Flaminia and spans the Tiber River a few miles north of Rome. The bridge may have originally been constructed of wood in 220 BC, but was rebuilt with stone in 109 BC.  Perhaps the bridge at one time did look like the one on the coin.  The one standing today only contains parts of the ancient bridge. Take note of the towers on the far end.  Those do look similar to the coin, but without the round objects on top, thought possibly to be signal beacons by come numismatists.
2. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/_constantinople_RIC_viii_021,I.jpg Lot Number: 61205 Estimate: $100.00 Final Sale Price: $75.90 Denomination: 14mm Grade: Good VF dark brown and green patina Reference: RIC VIII 21 Constantine I. 307-337 AD. Æ 14mm (1.39gm). Commemorative issue struck in celebration of the founding of Constantinople, 330 AD. Constantinople mint. POP ROMANVS, laureate and draped bust left, cornucopiae on shoulder / Bridge over river; CONS/I. RIC VIII 21. Good VF, dark brown and green patina. Estimate $100.
3. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/_constantinople_RIC_viii_021,IA.jpg CONSTANTINOPLE COMMEMORATIVE Æ4 (14mm/1.13 gm) Constantinople 330 AD US $145.00 October 14, 2007 CONSTANTINOPLE DEDICATION COMMEMORATIVE Æ4 14mm. Constantinople 330 AD. POP ROMANVS, laureate and draped bust left of the Roman People, cornucopiae on shoulder bridge over river, CONS/IA above. RIC VIII 21. 1.13 gm. Weak obverse strike. Near Very Fine. Rated common, but seldom seen on the market. The obverse portrait of the Roman people is rare. The bridge on the reverse is unidentified, but some have speculated that it could be the famous Milvian Bridge where the battle, one of the world’s most momentous, took place on October 28, 312 between Constantine I and Maxentius.
4. Vcoins Commemorative A.D. 330 13mm 1.1gm POP ROMANVS, laureate & draped bust of the Roman people left, cornucopia over shoulder REV: Bridge over river and mintmark of CONSI RIC VIII Constantinople 21 This coin is a donative half- “centenionales” and celebrates the dedication of Constantinople.
5. http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/comm/BridgeS.JPG A.D. 330 14mm 1.2gm POP ROMANVS, laureate & draped bust of the Roman people left, cornucopia over shoulder REV: Bridge over river and mintmark of CONSS RIC VIII Constantinople 21. The POP ROMANVS type was issued circa A.D. 330 and this half- “centenionales” was likely a donative issued to commemorate the founding of Constantinople. There are two types, the star reverse and bridge reverse. The two reverses probably represent the cities of Rome and Constantinople, the star for Constantinople and the bridge for Rome. There has been speculation that the bridge is an allusion to Constantine's victory at the Milvian Bridge but it seems unlikely given how many years had passed, it is probably just a bridge over a river. These coins were included in RIC VIII because when RIC VII was published, numismatists believed that these coins were struck circa A.D. 340, however the Llanbethery Hoard of Constantinian coins, which had one example, proved that these coins were struck earlier.
6. Coin Archives Pecunem Gitbud & Naumann > Auction 10 Auction date: 1 December 2013 Lot number: 728 Lot description: CONSTANTINE I THE GREAT (307-337). Commemorative Series. Follis. Constantinople. Obv: POP ROMANVS. Draped bust of Genus left, cornucopia on shoulder. Rev: CONS / I. Milvian Bridge over river. RIC 21. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 1.4 g. Diameter: 14 mm. Estimate: 50 EUR.
7. Coin Archives Roma Numismatics Ltd > E-Sale 3 Auction date: 30 November 2013 Lot number: 740 Lot description: Constantine I Æ14. Constantinople, AD 330. POP ROMANVS, draped bust of Genius left, cornucopiae on shoulder / Milvian Bridge over the River Tiber, CONSΔ above bridge. RIC 21. 1.03g, 14mm, 12h. Very Fine.  Struck in commemoration of the refoundation of Byzantium as Constantinople, the reverse depicts the famed Milvian Bridge over the Tiber, where Constantine defeated Maxentius in October of AD 312. Estimate: 50 GBP.
8. Coin Archives Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung > Auction 215 Auction date: 13 October 2013 Lot number: 551 Price realized: 120 EUR  (approx. 163 USD as of the auction date) Lot description: The Old Sable Collection RÖMISCHE KAISERZEIT Stadtprägung aus der Zeit Constantin II., Constans I. und Constantius II. AE Follis (1,25g). 330 n. Chr. Mzst. Konstantinopel. Vs.: POP ROMANVS, drapierte Büste des Genius Populi Romani mit Lorbeerkranz u. Füllhorn n. l. Rs.: CONS / A, Sperrwerk einer Hafeneinfahrt. RIC VIII 21. Dunkelgrüne Patina, vz Ex Gorny & Mosch 200, 2011, 2865. Bisher wurde das Bauwerk als Brücke gedeutet. Von P. Kowalewski (Münzenrevue 9, 1998, 48 f.) stammt der Vorschlag, daß hier ein Sperrwerk für eine Hafeneinfahrt von Konstantinopel zu sehen sei.
9. Coin Archives Classical Numismatic Group  > Electronic Auction 310  Auction date: 4 September 2013 Lot number: 420 Price realized: 100 USD   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.Find similar lots in upcoming auctions at  NumisBids.com Lot description: Roman Imperial Commemorative Series. AD 330-354. Æ (13mm, 1.19 g, 12h). Constantinople mint, uncertain officina. Struck AD 330. POP ROMANVS, draped bust of Genus left, cornucopia on shoulder / Milvian Bridge over Tiber River; CONS/[?]. RIC VIII 21; LRBC 1066; Vagi 3043. Near VF, green patina, roughness. From the RVP Collection. The reverse depicts the famed Milvian Bridge over the Tiber, where Maxentius made his stand against Constantine’s forces in October of AD 312. Tradition holds that it was prior to this battle that Constantine had a vision that would lead to both his victory over Maxentius and his conversion to Christianity. Estimate: $75.
10. Coin Archives Numismatik Lanz München > Auction 156 Auction date: 2 June 2013 Lot number: 408 Price realized: 260 EUR  (approx. 337 USD as of the auction date) Lot description: RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN KAISERREICH CONSTANTINUS I. (307 - 337) POPULUS ROMANUS - PRÄGUNGEN Kleinbronze (Viertelfollis), ca. 330, Constantinopolis. POP ROMANVS, drapierte Büste des Genius Populi Romani mit Lorbeerkranz und Füllhorn über der linken Schulter nach links. Rs: Brückenähnliche Konstruktion über Wellenlinien, im Feld darüber CONS / Z. RIC 21; LRBC 1066; C. 2. 1,21g. Sehr selten. Fast vorzüglich. Estimate: 400 EUR.
11. Coin Archives Classical Numismatic Group  > Electronic Auction 303 Auction date: 29 May 2013 Lot number: 402 Price realized: 900 USD Lot description: Roman Imperial Commemorative Series. AD 330-354. Æ (14mm, 1.06 g, 1h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. Struck AD 330. POP ROMANVS, draped bust of Genus left, cornucopia on shoulder / Milvian Bridge over river; CONS/I. RIC VIII 21; LRBC 1066. Good VF, brown patina, some surface roughness. The reverse depicts the famed Milvian Bridge over the Tiber, where Maxentius made his stand against Constantine’s forces in October of AD 312. Tradition holds that it was prior to this battle that Constantine had a vision that would lead to both his victory over Maxentius and his conversion to Christianity. Estimate: $150.
12. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/_constantinople_RIC_viii_021.jpg Anonymous Issue during the reign of Constantine, AE 4, 330, Constantinopolis, Officina 5 - RIC VIII, 21 April 09, 2006 at 3:00 PM CST US $320.00 Seller beastcoins Anonymous Issue during the reign of Constantine, AE 4, 330, Constantinopolis, Officina 5 POP ROMANVS, Laureate, draped bust of the Genius of the Roman People left, cornucopia on left shoulder Milvian (?) Bridge with towers at each end surmounted by three round objects. CONS / E above, waves and pylons below 14mm, 1.02g RIC VIII, 21; Vagi 3043 Ex Jean Elsen, Auction 85, Lot 398, September 2005 Note: Flan has some corrosion, but overall a nicely struck example with much detail The traditional identification of this bridge has been the Milvian Bridge where Constantine I and Maxentius battled in 312 AD. The bridge is part of the Via Flaminia and spans the Tiber a few miles north of Rome. It may have originally been constructed of wood in 220 BC, but was rebuilt with stone in 109 BC. Perhaps the bridge at one time did look like the one on the coin. The one standing today only contains parts of the ancient bridge.
13. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-5987 Milvian Bridge(?) Commemorative RIC VIII, Constantinopolis 21 Constantine I AD 306 - 337 AE - AE 4 Constantinopolis 4th officina AD 330 obv. POP ROMANVS draped, laureate head of a young Roman l., cornucopiae over r. shoulder rev. (no legend) Bridge with two towers and pylons below, over river CONS/Epsilon above. RIC VIII, Constaninopolis 21; C.1; LRBC.1066 about VF/EF Belongs to the special issue for the dedication of Constantinopolis AD 330 under Constantine I. The bridge may be the famous Milvian bridge, where Maxentius was defeated by Constantine I AD 312.
14. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/_constantinople_RIC_viii_021_Z.jpg City commemorative, Constantinople. POP ROMANVS, Laureate, draped bust of the Genius of the Roman People left, cornucopiae on left shoulder. Bridge with towers at each end, waves and pylons below. CONS Z above, RIC VIII Constantinople 21; Vagi 3043.
15. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s3901.html Constantine The Great Commemorative AE4, 14mm. POP ROMANVS, laureate & draped bust of the Roman people left, cornucopia over shoulder / star, CONSA below, all in wreath. RIC VIII 21 of Constantinople.
16. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/city_commemoratives/_constantinople_RIC_viii_022.jpg Constantinople RIC VIII 22  Constantinople dedication commemorative AE4 half-centenionale. 330 AD. POP ROMANVS, laureate & draped bust of the Roman People left, with cornucopiae / large star within wreath, CONS and officina letter below.
    

Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio

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