Late Roman Bronze Coins

Coin talk => Identification => Topic started by: Fabius Severus on July 13, 2013, 02:14:08 PM

Title: ... a strange mint
Post by: Fabius Severus on July 13, 2013, 02:14:08 PM

Hi Victor,
what do you think about the strange exergus of this VIRTVS coin?
I never seen a similiar, before of this...  :o

Regards
Fabius

Title: Re: ... a strange mint
Post by: Victor on July 13, 2013, 03:30:09 PM

Your coin is an unofficial example. These are commonly called "barbs." Besides the mintmark, the engraver made Constantine's nose too large...it is a neat example! Below are two more unofficial issues of this type for Licinius II and Constantine II.


I have a page about these 4th century barbs.

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/barb2/

Title: Re: ... a strange mint
Post by: Fabius Severus on July 13, 2013, 04:02:58 PM

OK, it's a barbaric (local) early oriental copy...
It's on sale in a Jerusalem's coin shop.

And there is this second example, a S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI with a variant: the legionary eagle is opening the wings!

Regards
Fabius
:)

Title: Re: ... a strange mint
Post by: Victor on July 13, 2013, 04:51:02 PM

Quote from: Fabius Severus on July 13, 2013, 04:02:58 PM

And there is this second example, a S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI with a variant: the legionary eagle is opening the wings!

I have seen a few of these, they are interesting; but not worth much more than the regular type, except for a specialist perhaps...and of course the seller thinks it's worth much more!