EROS/AMOR Rome mint VOT V

[seth]

As I found a new interest in 3rd century coins, the 4th century got neglected, so here is something to make up for the shift in focus:


CONSTANTINE II AE3 18mm 3g Follis/Nummus (VF, patina, scratches)

AV: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; laureate draped cuirassed bust r.

REV: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM; VOT/V inside wreath

EXE: R eRwC in ligature Q Rome mint

REF: RIC VII Rome 231, rated R5, 320-321AD.

The interesting mintmark is the greek EROS in ligature, which is the counterpart of AMOR in latin, which in turn is ROMA backwards.

Not an unlisted coin, but as far as I could notice, quite scarce, at least scarcer than the ROMAE AETERNAE type w/ the same mintmark.

[Victor]

Yes, this mintmark is much more scarce and desirable.

I have a page on this mintmark and recommend Alföldi's The Conversion of Constantine and Pagan Rome, in which he wrote a bit about this type and what may have been the atmosphere in Rome at the time to inspire such a mintmark.

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/ROMAE/

[seth]

Thank you, Victor.
The ROMAE AETERNAE Rome seated type is a regular for this mintmark. What I mean is that the VOT types are scarcer than the ROMAE AETERNAE, at least as far as I could figure.

[seth]

Here is a better picture, coin is dark green. AE3 18mm 2.73g.