LRB's with a Galley-- Salute to the Navy!

[Victor]

Having served in the Navy, I thought that this might make an interesting topic-- LRB's with a galley.


The victory on a prow type alludes to the naval victory of Crispus and his subsequent capture of Byzantium (soon to be re-named Constantinople). Zosimus said that Constantine's fleet had 200 ships and Licinius had 350 ships. Zosimus might have exaggerated, but all sources agreed that Constantine's fleet was greatly outnumbered. What accounted for the surprise victory of Constantine's forces? Could it have been that Constantine had better trained sailors...maybe divine providence? A papyrus letter from circa A.D. 323, gives an answer. The letter is from a procurator who said that the government of Egypt had an urgent requirement of box and acanthus wood for repair of the men-at-war vessels in the arsenals of Memphis and Babylon. Egypt sent a total of 130 ships to serve in the navy of Licinius, but it seems that they were all old tubs!

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/comm/


Constantinopolis Commemorative
A.D. 334-5
19x18mm     2.9gm
Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.
Rev. Victory stg. on the prow of a galley, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.
in ex. dot BSIS dot
RIC VII Siscia 241

[Victor]

Constantine I
A.D. 327-8
18x19mm   3.2gm
CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG- head with rosette diadem
LIBERTAS PVBLICA [Public Liberty]- Victory standing left on galley, wreath in both hands
In ex. CONS, B in left field     
RIC VII Constantinople 25

This is part of a series of coinage from Constantinople (GLORIA EXERCITVS, GLORIA ROMANORVM, LIBERTAS PVBLICA,SPES PVBLIC and CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE) summing up the civil war with Licinius. This alludes to the naval victory of Crispus on the Bosphorus where he captured Byzantium (soon to be called Constantinople) from Licinius. This series was issued to pay workers building the new city of Constantinople.

[Victor]

Theodosius I
A.D. 378-383
22mm   5.8gm
DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG Helmeted with pearl diadem, draped and cuirassed, holding spear and shield in front     
GLORIA RO-MANORVM Emperor standing left, head right, on galley, raising right hand, Victory seated at helm
In ex. CONA, in left field wreath
RIC IX Constantinople 52c

[Victor]

Constans
A.D. 348-350
17mm  1.7gm
DN CONSTA-NS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
FEL TEMP REPARATIO Emperor in military dress stg. left in galley, holding phoenix on globe and standard with Chi-Rho on banner; in stern sits Victory, steering ship.
In ex. BSIS
RIC VIII  Siscia 230
 

The reverse on this coin translates as "good times restored" or "happy times are here again"

 

the FTR Galley type is likely a reference to a visit Constans made to Britain in A.D. 343, and it seems he was celebrating some sort of a victory on these coins.

[Victor]

Arcadius
A.D. 383- 388
17mm   2.2gm
DN ARCAD-IVS PF AVG- pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.
VIRTVS-AVGGG- Emperor standing left, head right, on galley, holding phoenix on globe and standard. His right foot on captive; Victory on helm.
In exergue TES, in left field Γ
RIC IX Thessalonica 61c



In A.D. 383, Magnus Maximus defeated the Emperor Gratian and claimed the title of Augustus. Valentinian II fled his territory and Theodosius I moved to meet Magnus. Theodosius I temporarily occupied the mint of Thessalonica from 25 Aug 383 until autumn of 384.  Theodosius returned control of the Western territories to Valentinian II including the mint in Thessalonica and this reverse type seems “to have been Valentinian’s earliest issue after his flight from Italy.” (RIC IX)

[Victor]

Allectus
A.D. 293-296
Æ Quinarius
20mm   3.3gm
IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG- radiate and cuirassed bust right.
VIRTVS AVG- galley with five oars.
In ex. QC
RIC V pt. 2  Camulodunum 128

[Victor]

Arcadius
A.D. 401- 403
16mm      2.3gm
DN ARCADI-VS PF AVG; Helmeted bust facing, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, spear in right hand held over right shoulder behind head, shield decorated with cross on left arm.
CONCORDIA AVGGG; Constantinopolis enthroned, holding long scepter and victory on a globe; beneath right foot, a prow.
In ex. ANTΓ
RIC X Antioch 97

[Victor]

Allectus
A.D. 293-296
Æ Quinarius
19x20mm   2.3gm
IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right.
LAETITIA AVG; galley with five oars.
In ex. QC
RIC V Camulodunum 124

[Victor]

There are many different types of the Festival of Isis coins with a reverse that shows Isis in a galley.

Festival of Isis
4th cent A.D.
12mm   .8gm
ISIS FARIA; draped bust of Isis right.
VOTA PVBLICA; Isis in galley, supporting sail.
Rome mint
Vagi 3389

[Victor]

Here is a coin with an ANNONA reverse. Annona comes from the Latin word "annus" or year and Annona represents the yearly production of grain or corn. The term corn confuses some (mostly Americans) because corn actually refers to any cereal crop. Annona has her foot on a prow because the corn had to be shipped to Rome from other places like Egypt.

Claudius II
A.D. 268- 270
Ӕ Antoninianus
19mm    2.6gm
IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG; radiate and draped bust right.
ANNONA AVG; Annona standing left, foot on prow, with corn ears and cornucopiae
RIC V Rome 18

[Victor]

here's a Postumus coin with Fortuna on the prow of a galley. This coin was issued under the authority of Aureolus


Aureolus was Master of the Horse under the Emperor Gallienus. He revolted against Gallienus and even though his troops declared him Augustus, he proclaimed his loyalty to Postumus and issued coins for him. The headquarters of Aureolus were in Milan and many of the coins he struck reference the loyalty of the cavalry (EQVITVM or AEQVITVM). After Gallienus was killed, the new Emperor, Claudius II, executed Aureolus.

Postumus
A.D. 267- 268
Ӕ Antoninianus
20mm    2.1gm
IMP POSTVMVS AVG; Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
CONCORD [A]EQVIT; Fortuna stg. l., foot on prow, holding patera and rudder.
In ex. S
RIC V Milan 371, 373