RIC VII, CONSTANTINOPLE [after 53], ANONYMOUS, UNLISTED Æ ISSUE (star and wreath inscribed O/C S/C)

OBVERSE	ANEPIGRAPHIC (no legend); star of eight rays ending in pellets.
REVERSE	ANEPIGRAPHIC (no legend); laurel wreath inscribed O/C S/C in three lines.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED ISSUE. Minted probably in spring 330 for the celebrations of the official dedication of Constantinople (11 May 330). The symbolic meaning of an eight-rayed star and a laurel wreath (corona triumphalis) is uncertain. Also letters O/C S/C remain enigmatic. See: Simon Bendall, "Some comments on the anonymous silver coinage of the fourth to sixth centuries A.D.", Revue Numismatique 2002, no. 158, pp. 139-159; Simon Bendall, "Two New Anonymous Constantinian Coins", Numismatic Circular August 2008, vol. 116, no. 4, pp. 185-187; Lars Ramskold, "Coins and Medallions Struck for the Inauguration of Constantinopolis 11 May 330", Niš and Byzantium IX, 2011, pp. 125-157. However, according to Ramskold's recent studies, coins with eight-rayed star (or at least some of them) may have been minted ten years earlier in Thessalonica. Coin should be noted after CONSTANTINOPLE 53.

NOTES

Æ fraction. Weight 0.94 g. Sold on Rauch auction 99 (Lot 321) in December 2015 for EUR 750. Other specimens: - ex Gorny & Mosch auction 125 (lot 581), October 2003; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2818) in March 2023 for CHF 800; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 27 (lot 2120) in September 2023 for CHF 1001; weight 1.28 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - ex Gorny & Mosch auction 142 (lot 2976), October 2005; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2819) in March 2023 for CHF 1,500; weight 0.81 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - ex Gorny & Mosch auction 134 (lot 3089), October 2004; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 5088) in July 2023 for CHF 1,300; weight 1.58 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Rauch auction 87 (lot 854) in December 2010 for EUR 650; weight 1.02 g [click for picture]; - sold on Solidus Numismatik auction 2 (lot 312) in May 2014 for EUR 650; weight 1.23 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 267 (lot 3808) in October 2019 for EUR 650; weight 1.57 g [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 284 (lot 1046) in March 2022 for EUR 475; weight 0.96 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on CNG auction 84 (lot 1522) in May 2010 for USD 800; weight 1.14 g [click for picture]; - sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 4933) in July 2023 for CHF 260; weight 1.00 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatik Naumann auction 89 (lot 538) in May 2020 for EUR 240; weight 1.02 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on CNG eAuction 338 (lot 284) in November 2014 for USD 750; weight 0.87 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - sold on CNG auction 81 (lot 1140) in May 2009 for USD 800; weight 1.14 g [click for picture]; - ex Künker auction 124 (lot 9468), March 2007; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 5089) in July 2023 for CHF 280; weight 1.12 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 5086) in July 2023 for CHF 190; weight 1.17 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 5087) in July 2023 for CHF 85; weight 1.00 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Helios Numismatik auction 7 (lot 948) in December 2011 for EUR 700; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 5090) in July 2023 for CHF 280; weight 0.93 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - ex Rick Morton [click for picture]; - sold on Roma Numismatics eSale 86 (lot 1484) in July 2021 for GBP 160; weight 1.18 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - from CNG auction 53 (lot 1736), March 2000; ex Victor Failmezger [click for picture]; - sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 28 (lot 4799) in December 2023 for CHF 240; ex Lars Ramskold; weight 0.73 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture].