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| ---------- Interesting Things About Ancient Coins ---------- |
| Barbarians, Soldiers, Huts and Trees |
here
is a well-known Roman coin type that shows a soldier, possibly meant to be the Emperor or a personification of valour, guiding or dragging a barbarian from a hut beneath a tree. The barbarian is docile and does what the large, well-armoured Roman with the big spear wants him to do.
These coins belong to a series which all have the same reverse legend, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, which I have seen translated as anything from "Happy Days are Here Again" to "A Lucky Time to Recruit."
Thirteen mints produced these coins for about two years, 348-350. They were struck for the emperors Constans and Constantius II. Although the basic description stays the same, each Imperial mint produced trees which were unique to them. This is well known. In fact, I have read that you can identify the mint by looking at the tree. But this isn't completely true, and there are a lot of other interesting details, some of which are analysed on the next page.
ere is a gallery of hut coins organised by mint and RIC type. My thanks to Dane Helvetica for the RIC lists I started with and the help in sorting out which type was which, from which I learned a lot. Of course I still ended up with my own copy of RIC VIII .. and a knowledge of just how many varieties I don't have! RIC lists 246 varieties. I have less than half of that number, and that includes several that aren't documented in RIC. The only mint for which I have all listed varieties is Thessalonica, with a meagre 8 listed types! But I do also have one unlisted variety.
The RIC list for each mint is shown below, with links to such coins as I have. If the link is active, it will take you to my coin. If it's not active, I don't have one. You can also click on any coin image to see the complete coin.
There are now 264 hut coins in my collection or that have passed through my hands, broken down like this:
Listed in RIC VIII: 128 types and 115 duplicates.
Unlisted officinas, bust types, mintmarks and other features: 21.
Only one of each type is displayed on line.
Some of the unlisted types might simply be errors, but not all of them. So, based on this sample, from this period, a good proportion of those that you might collect won't have been documented. That's a lot of knowledge still to be gained even before you consider the many lesser features of these coins that haven't been analysed.
| Alexandria (Egypt) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Alexandria 58 ALEA Alexandria 58 ALEB Alexandria 58 ALEΓ Alexandria 59 ALEA Alexandria 59 ALEB Alexandria 59 ALEΓ Alexandria 60 ALEA Alexandria 60 ALEB Alexandria 60 ALEΓ Alexandria 61 ALEA Alexandria 61 ALEB |
Alexandria 61 ALEΓ Alexandria 66 ALEA Alexandria 66 ALEB Alexandria 66 ALEΓ Alexandria 67 ALEA Alexandria 67 ALEB Alexandria 67 ALEΓ Alexandria 67 ALEΔ Alexandria 68 ALEB Alexandria 68 ALEΓ Alexandria 68 ALEΔ | ||||||||||||||||||
| RIC VIII Alexandria 60 ALEA | RIC VIII Alexandria 66 ALEB var | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl, or laurel and rosette. Legend break: REPA - RATIO Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree types: Two very different types, as illustrated. The right hand illustration is the more common type and looks like a fig. Typical hut: Simple construction, diagonal or horizontal crosspieces, short hooked overhang, pointed end. Typical small figure: Robed, left hand not shown, upright, looks upwards.
Comments: The right hand coin shown here has a circle in the upper field, which I now think is an ancient attempt to start boring a hole rather than an integral feature of the coin. Officina 4 for type 68, Alexandria 68 ALEΔ, is not listed in RIC, but has been reported to exist. I don't have one. |
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| Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Antioch 126 ANA Antioch 126 ANB Antioch 126 ANΓ Antioch 126 ANΔ Antioch 126 ANЄ (unlisted officina) Antioch 126 ANS |
Antioch 128 ANB Antioch 128 ANΓ Antioch 128 ANΔ Antioch 128 ANЄ Antioch 128 ANS Antioch 128 ANΘ Antioch 128 ANI |
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| RIC VIII Antioch 126 ANB | RIC VIII Antioch 128 ANΔ | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl. Legend break: REPA - RATIO Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree type: One type. The trees on these coins look more like giant sprays of millet. Typical hut: Simple construction, twinned diagonal crosspieces, clearly defined entrance, short overhang or none, rounded end. Typical small figure: Robed, left hand held to mouth or face, upright, looks upwards. Those which appear to show no left hand might just be worn or obscured by corrosion and patina.
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| Aquileia (Near Trieste, Italy) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Aquileia 100 AQS Aquileia 101 AQS Aquileia 102 AQP • Aquileia 102 AQS • Aquileia 102 AQT • Aquileia 103 AQP • Aquileia 103 AQS • Aquileia 103 AQT • |
Aquileia 104 AQT • Aquileia 105 AQP • Aquileia 105 AQS • Aquileia 105 AQT • Aquileia 106 AQP • (unlisted officina) Aquileia 106 AQT • Aquileia 121 AQP Aquileia 121 AQS Aquileia 121 AQT |
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| RIC VIII Aquileia 106 AQT • | RIC VIII Aquileia 103 AQP • | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl. Legend break: REPAR - ATIO Spear position: Pointing upwards and to the right, or downwards and left of the soldier's legs. Tree type: A very distinctive tree, very consistent for this mint, with long spear-head shaped leaves with a distinct spinal ridge. Typical hut: Complex construction, long overhang, diagonal texture, roof distinct from body. Typical small figure: Wears tunic, left hand held to mouth or face, stooped, looks downwards. Those which appear to show no left hand might just be worn or obscured by corrosion and patina.
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| Arelate (Arles, France) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Arles 104 PARL Arles 105 PARL Arles 106 PARL Arles 106 PARL (unlisted bust type) |
Arles 106 SARL Arles 107 SARL Arles 108 PARL |
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| RIC VIII Arles 104 PARL | RIC VIII Arles 106 SARL | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl or laurel. Legend break: REPAR - ATIO Spear position: The spear point is upwards and to the right, or down and to the left of the soldier. Tree type: One type with variations, as illustrated. Typical hut: Complex construction, long overhang, diagonal or blocky texture, roof distinct from body. Typical small figure: Wears tunic, left hand not shown or in front of face, upright, looks forwards.
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| Constantinopolis (Istanbul, Turkey) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Constantinople 85 CONSIA Constantinople 86 CONSA Constantinople 86 CONSB (unlisted officina) Constantinople 86 CONSΓ Constantinople 86 CONSΔ Constantinople 86 CONSЄ Constantinople 86 CONSS Constantinople 86 CONSH Constantinople 86 CONSI Constantinople 86 CONSIA Constantinople 88 CONSA* Constantinople 88 CONSB* Constantinople 88 CONSΓ* |
Constantinople 88 CONSΔ* Constantinople 88 CONSЄ* Constantinople 88 CONSS* Constantinople 88 CONSI* Constantinople 88 CONSIA* Constantinople 91 CONSΓ* Constantinople 91 CONSI* Constantinople 92 CONSΓ* Constantinople 92 CONSЄ* Constantinople 92 CONSS* Constantinople 92 CONSI* Constantinople 92 CONSIA* |
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| RIC VIII Constantinople 92 CONSΓ* | RIC VIII Constantinople 88 CONSЄ* | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl. Legend break: REPA - RATIO Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree type: One type, as illustrated. Typical hut: Simple construction, little or no overhang, one horizontal crosspiece, pointed end. Typical small figure: Wears tunic and leggings with horizontal stripes, left hand not shown, hair radiates from head, upright, looks upwards.
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| Cyzicus (ruins visible at Bal-kiz, Turkey) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cyzicus 72 SMKA Cyzicus 72 SMKB Cyzicus 72 SMKΓ Cyzicus 72 SMKΔ Cyzicus 72 SMKЄ Cyzicus 72 SMKS (Unlisted) SMKN Cyzicus 73 SMKA (unlisted officina) Cyzicus 73 SMKB Cyzicus 73 SMKΓ Cyzicus 74 SMKΔ Cyzicus 77 *SMKA Cyzicus 77 *SMKΓ Cyzicus 77 *SMKΓ (unlisted bust type) |
Cyzicus 77 *SMKΔ Cyzicus 77 *SMKS Cyzicus 78 *SMKΔ Cyzicus 79 *SMKA Cyzicus 79 *SMKB Cyzicus 79 *SMKΓ Cyzicus 79 *SMKΔ Cyzicus 79 *SMKЄ Cyzicus 79 *SMKS Cyzicus 81 • SMKA Cyzicus 81 • SMKΔ Cyzicus 81 • SMKЄ Cyzicus 81 • SMKS |
Cyzicus 82 • SMKΔ Cyzicus 82 • SMKЄ Cyzicus 85 SMKA Cyzicus 85 SMKB Cyzicus 85 SMKΓ Cyzicus 85 SMKΔ Cyzicus 85 SMKЄ Cyzicus 85 SMKS Cyzicus 86 SMKA Cyzicus 86 SMKB Cyzicus 86 SMKΓ Cyzicus 86 SMKЄ Cyzicus 86 SMKS Cyzicus 87 SMKS |
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| RIC VIII Cyzicus 86 SMKA | RIC VIII Cyzicus 72 SMKΔ | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl, or (rarely, not listed in RIC VIII) rosette. Legend break: REP - ARATIO or REPA - RATIO Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree type: Two distinct types, as illustrated. Intermediate forms exist. Typical hut: Simple construction, curved overhang, horizontal or diagonal crosspieces, pointed end, often attached to the tree. Typical small figure: Wears unbelted tunic with vertical stripes and leggings with horizontal stripes, left hand in front of mouth, hair radiates from head, upright, looks forwards.
Comments: Some of these coins show the soldier with a full cloak, which is unusual. |
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| Heraclea Thracica (Eski Eregli, Turkey) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Heraclea 64 SMH Heraclea 70 SMHΔ Heraclea 71 SMHA Heraclea 71 SMHΓ Heraclea 71 SMHΔ Heraclea 71 SMHЄ (unlisted) SMHΔ Heraclea 73 SMHΔ |
Heraclea 74 SMHA Heraclea 74 SMHΓ Heraclea 74 SMHΔ Heraclea 74 SMHΔ variety Heraclea 74 SMHЄ Heraclea 76 MHΔ Heraclea 76 MHЄ Heraclea 77 MHΔ Heraclea 77 MHЄ Heraclea 78 SMHΔ* |
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| RIC VIII Heraclea 74 SMHA | RIC VIII Heraclea 64 SMH | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl. Legend break: REPA - RATIO Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree type: Two distinct types, as illustrated. Both are common. Typical hut: Simple construction, wavy verticals, small curved overhang, one horizontal crosspiece, pointed end. Typical small figure: Wears belted tunic with vertical stripes and leggings with horizontal stripes, left hand not shown or holding something between self and soldier, hair radiates from head, upright, looks upwards.
Comments: RIC VIII notes a coin of type 71 from the Sydenham hoard on which the figure appears to be carrying a bow. The type 64 coin shown here matches that description. |
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| Lugdunum (Lyons, France) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Lyons 84 PLG Lyons 84 SLG Lyons 85 PLG Lyons 85 SLG Lyons 86 *PLG Lyons 86 *SLG |
Lyons 87 *PLG Lyons 87 *SLG Lyons 88 *PLG • Lyons 88 *SLG • Lyons 89 PLG • |
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| RIC VIII Lyons 84 PLG | RIC VIII Lyons 88 *PLG • | |||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl or rosette. Legend break: REPAR - ATIO Spear position: The spear point is upwards and to the right. Tree type: Two types, as illustrated. The left hand one is more common. Typical hut: Complex construction, long overhang diagonal texture, roof distinct from body. Typical small figure: Wears tunic, left hand not shown, upright, looks upwards.
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| Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Nicomedia 69 SMNB Nicomedia 70 SMNA Nicomedia 70 SMNB Nicomedia 70 SMNΓ Nicomedia 70 SMNΔ |
Nicomedia 72 SMNA Nicomedia 72 SMNB Nicomedia 72 SMNΔ |
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| RIC VIII Nicomedia 70 SMNB | RIC VIII Nicomedia 72 SMNA | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl. Legend break: REPA - RATIO Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree type: One consistent type, rather like an ash tree, with slight variations as shown. Typical hut: Simple construction, one horizontal crosspiece, curved overhang, pointed end. Typical small figure: Wears unbelted tunic with vertical stripes and leggings with horizontal stripes, hair radiates from head, left hand not shown, or sometimes, held by left hand and right hand empty; upright, looks forwards.
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| Rome (Italy) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rome 137 RQ (dots) Rome 137 RQ (no dots) Rome 138 RQ (dots) Rome 138 RQ (no dots) Rome 138 RЄ (dots) Rome 138 RЄ (no dots) Rome 139 R*P (dots) Rome 139 R*P (no dots) Rome 139 R*T (dots) Rome 139 R*T (no dots) Rome 139 R*Q (dots) Rome 139 R*Q (no dots) Rome 139 R*Є (dots) Rome 139 R*Є (no dots) Rome 139 R*S (dots) Rome 139 R*S (no dots) |
Rome 140 R*P (dots) Rome 140 R*P (no dots) Rome 140 R*B (dots) Rome 140 R*B (no dots) Rome 140 R*T (dots) Rome 140 R*T (no dots) Rome 140 R*Q (dots) Rome 140 R*Q (no dots) Rome 140 R*Є (dots) Rome 140 R*Є (no dots) Rome 140 R*S (dots) Rome 140 R*S (no dots) Rome 156 RP Rome 156 RB Rome 156 RT Rome 156 RЄ Rome 156 RS |
Rome 157 RB Rome 157 RT Rome 157 RQ Rome 157 RЄ Rome 157 RS Rome 158 RP Rome 158 RT Rome 158 RЄ Rome 158 RS Rome 159 RP Rome 159 RB Rome 159 RT Rome 159 RQ Rome 159 RЄ Rome 159 RS Rome 160 R*S Rome 161 R*S |
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| RIC VIII Rome 140 R*S | RIC VIII Rome 140 R*T | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl, or laurel and rosette. Legend break: REPA - RATIO or, if the N denomination mark is present, REPARAT - I - O Spear position: The spear point is downwards, between the soldier's legs. Tree type: One type, as shown, with minor variations in detail. Typical hut: Simple construction, one horizontal crosspiece, curved overhang, pointed end, sometimes a sloping element or an angled projection at the top. Typical small figure: Wears belted tunic, sometimes carrying something OR left hand in front of face (hard to tell), upright, looks forwards.
Comments: The listings for types 137, 138, 139 and 140 are doubled up because RIC VIII says that the dots between the words "FEL•TEMP•REPARATIO" are sometimes there, sometimes not. |
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| Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Siscia 212 ASIS(s1) Siscia 212 ΔSIS(s4) (unlisted) ΔSIS(s4) (unlisted) ASIS(s1) Siscia 213 BSIS•(s2) (unlisted) BSIS(s2) Siscia 214 ΔSIS•(s4) (unlisted) ASIS•(s4) (unlisted) ЄSIS•(s4) Siscia 215 BSIS(s2)M Siscia 215 BSIS(s2)M (unlisted bust type) Siscia 215 ΔSIS(s4)M (unlisted officina) Siscia 216 BSIS(s2)M Siscia 216 ΔSIS(s4)M Siscia 216 ΔSIS(s4)M (unlisted legend break) Siscia 217 BSIS(s2)M Siscia 217 ΔSIS(s4)M |
Siscia 218 BSIS(s2)M Siscia 218 ΔSIS(s4)M Siscia 219 ASISR Siscia 219 BSISM Siscia 219 ΓSISR Siscia 219 ΔSISM Siscia 219 ЄSISR Siscia 220 ΔSISM (unlisted) ΓSISR• Siscia 221 ЄSISR• Siscia 222 ASISR• Siscia 222 ΓSISR• Siscia 222 ЄSISR• (unlisted spear position) ASISR• (unlisted spear position) ΓSISR• (unlisted spear position) ΓSISR• |
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| RIC VIII (unlisted) ЄSIS• (s4) | RIC VIII Siscia 218 BSIS(s2)M | ||||||||||||||||||||
Diadem type: Pearl, or (rarely, not listed in RIC VIII) laurel and rosette.Legend break: REPA - RATIO or (rarely, not listed in RIC VIII) REPAR - ATIO Spear position: Pointing upwards and to the right, downwards and between the soldier's legs, or (rarely, not listed in RIC VIII) downwards and to the left of the soldier. Tree type: Two distinct types, both common. The right-hand illustration is a type that does not vary. The left-hand illustration is a more variable type; the other end of its range is shown here. Typical hut: Complex construction, long overhang, diagonal texture, roof distinct from body. Coins with simple construction huts, and other hut variations, exist. Typical small figure: Wears belted tunic, left hand not shown or in front of face, upright, looks forwards.
Comments: The symbols are supposed to belong exclusively to their own officina, and they usually do, but by no means always. |
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| Thessalonica (Thessaloniki, Greece) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Thessalonica 117 TESA Thessalonica 117 TESΓ (unlisted officina) Thessalonica 117 TESΔ Thessalonica 117 TESЄ |
Thessalonica 118 TESA Thessalonica 118 TESB Thessalonica 118 TESΓ Thessalonica 118 TESΔ Thessalonica 118 TESЄ |
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| RIC VIII Thessalonica 117 TESΓ | RIC VIII Thessalonica 117 TESЄ | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl. Legend break: REPAR - ATIO Spear position: The spear points downwards and to the left of the soldier. Tree type: One basic type with some variation. The illustrations show both ends of the range of variation – there are many intermediate forms. Typical hut: Complex construction, long overhang, diagonal texture, roof distinct from body. Typical small figure: Wears belted tunic, left hand touching or in front of face, stooped, looks forwards.
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| Treveri (Trier, Germany) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Trier 220 TRP Trier 221 TRP Trier 221 TRS Trier 222 TRP Trier 222 TRS |
Trier 223 TRP Trier 223 TRS Trier 224 TRS Trier 225 TRP Trier 225 TRS |
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| RIC VIII Trier 221 TRP | RIC VIII Trier 221 TRS | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Diadem type: Pearl or rosette. Legend break: REPAR - ATIO Spear position: The spear points downwards between the soldier's legs, or to the left of the soldier. Tree type: Two very different types. The left hand one illustrated is rare. It's possible that this might actually be a barbarous imitation. Typical hut: Complex construction, base is partly behind the tree, long overhang, diagonal texture, roof distinct from body. Typical small figure: Wears belted tunic, left hand not shown or open at waist level, stooped, looks forwards.
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Total count of the types of the small figure:
| Type: | 1 | 2a | 2b | 3a | 3b | 3c | 4a | 4b |
| No. of coins: | 109 | 8 | 3 | 38 | 74 | 1 | 15 | 8 |
ost of these coins are common. Really nice examples can cost a bit, as is true of all bronze coins. But
nearly all of the coins on this page were quite inexpensive and easy to collect, requiring only time and patience. Please see the next page for more analysis of hut coins.
| --------------------------------- Workshop Numbers --------------------------------- |
he
officina (workshop) numbers translate as follows – please see
the "hut coin analysis" page for a more detailed breakdown:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| Aquileia, Arelate, Lugdunum, Treveri | P | S | T | Q | |||||||
| Rome | P | B | T | Q | Є | S | |||||
| Others | A | B | Γ | Δ | Є | S | H | Θ | I | IA |
The greek Epsilon Є is clearly distinguishable from the straight-backed Roman E, as shown in the mintmark from Thessalonica on the left. The archaic character Digamma for officina 6 is, on these coins, almost indistinguishable from an upper case S, as seen in the mintmark from Constantinople on the right, and it is represented by one on this page. (It does look different on many other coin types.)
| --------------------------------- Key To References --------------------------------- |
The references by each mint are from Volume VIII of The Roman Imperial Coinage by J P C Kent. It is generally referred to as RIC VIII. I also had a lot of help matching up these coins from Dane "Helvetica" Kurth, whose excellent page on Fallen Horsemen is here: [Helvetica's Fallen Horseman page], and whose tables of RIC references are here: [Helvetica's RIC lists].
An improved hut coin spreadsheet is downloadable here. This sheet is a minor modification of Dane's, and could not have been prepared without her invaluable original work and generous help. Dane's sheets cover many, many types of coin: this one covers only the hut coins.
My other reference book for these coins and many others is "Late Roman Bronze Coinage" (LRBC) by R A G Carson, P V Hill and J P C Kent, published by Sanford J Durst Numismatic Publications, Rockville Centre, NY.
| The content of this page was last updated on 23 January 2013 |
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