Unlisted VOT XX from Heraclea

[seth]

I just bought this coin:

CONSTANTINE I AE3 18mm 3.2g Follis/Nummus

AV: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; pearl-diademed head r.
REV: D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG; laurel wreath enclosing VOT/XX. Star in middle field.
EXE: SMHΔ, Heraclea mint
REF: RIC VII Heraclea - unlisted for bust type (E3) RIC lists for Constantine I only bust type B1 (p. 549). Note that this type probably represents transitional form and could also be described also as unusual variation of B1 [laurel leaves which resemble pearls]. Coin should be listed after RIC VII Heraclea 60 (notinric).
325-326AD.
NOT IN RIC notes a similar coin (http://notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7her-60_e3.html) but from officina B. This one from officina Δ seems to be unrecorded.

[Lech Stępniewski]

Interesting coin. Are you sure that the officina letter is delta?

[seth]

This is what it looks like to me. You think it could actually be B with the bottom part missing? To me the upper part of the letter looks like a sharp angle which leads me to think it might be a delta.

[Lech Stępniewski]

You think it could actually be B with the bottom part missing?

No, rather A. Because it is really the upper part and I can see the horizontal line (or it is just my imagination).

[seth]

I don't see any horizontal line, but you may still be right. After checking more deltas on Heraclea mintmarks, it appears that they are a bit wider than the As. In this case, the angle seems to be rather narrow which might point out to an A.
I will try to make better pictures when I have the coin in hand, maybe that will manage to bring more light to what officina it belongs.

[Nikko]

the delta letter always has the upper horizontal bar.

Also, i think that this is a nomal lauerel diadem.

[seth]

I don't think so and the reasons are the jewel in front of the diadem and the way the diadem actually has pearls instead of laurel leaves.
This is how a regular Heraclea laurel looks like.

[Lech Stępniewski]

Also, i think that this is a nomal lauerel diadem.

Well, one could say that it was intended as a laurel wreath but an engraver had a very specific style and the wreath only looks like a pearl diadem. But there is no way to prove such opinion.

If it looks like a pearl diadem, has nice rounded "things" like a pearl diadem and a jewel in front like many pearl diadems, then it probably is a duck. Opps... then it probably is a pearl diadem. 

[Nikko]

The laurel wreath usually have a tricuspiadal ending and the "jewel" could b the central point.

[seth]

The diadem on both your examples is different from that in the OP.

[Nikko]

what do you think about this coin?

[seth]

The last coin you posted is this one on Lech's wonderfully helpful site: http://notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7her-60.html (see at  Notes : Other specimens: - specimen submitted by Nicola Tammaro; weight 3.16 g; diameter 20 mm)

[Victor]

The last coin you posted is this one on Lech's wonderfully helpful site: http://notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7her-60.html (see at  Notes : Other specimens: - specimen submitted by Nicola Tammaro; weight 3.16 g; diameter 20 mm)

Nicola = Nikko

Here is the original topic on the coin

http://www.lateromanbronzecoinforum.com/index.php?topic=261.0

[seth]

I didn't know that!
Well then, I don't really understand the question.

[Nikko]

the question is: has the last coin a pearl diadem or a laurel wreath?

At the biginning i thougt it was a pearl diadem but in the end i changed idea...