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71
General Discussion / Re: Fel Temp Reparatio "One captive"
« Last post by Joshmaggosh on February 01, 2024, 02:35:08 AM »
Interesting discussion. I have a Constantius II version too that I like very much... here it is!
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General Discussion / Re: Fel Temp Reparatio "One captive"
« Last post by Heliodromus on January 31, 2024, 07:07:27 PM »
It should be noted that in addition to the battle of the mints going on here, there was also the rather more significant battle of Mursa (which took place just east of Siscia) which was what turned Magnentius around and sent him in retreat back to Italy. Both sides took huge losses, and it is considered as one of the most bloody wars of the 4thC.

I'd assume that Magnentius Siscian coins were issued shortly after he took control of Siscia, and before the battle. It's not clear *exactly* when Constantius' Thessalonican Fel Temp type was issued. After his (considered pyrrhic) victory, perhaps ?

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General Discussion / Re: FRACTIONAL ISSUES OF 313
« Last post by Heliodromus on January 31, 2024, 05:59:15 PM »
There were two groups of fractions issued from Rome shortly after Constantine's victory:

1) VIRT EXERCIT GALL, PACI PERPET (Constantine only)

2) FVNDAT PACIS, GLORIA PERPET, SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS (Constantine + Licinius)

The first group, per the Gallic army reference, is celebrating Constantine's victory, and per bust style was issued first.

The second group (Licinius, Rome+Trier, etc) is clearly distinct from the first and must celebrate a different occasion, which it seems would generally have to be the new accord between Constantine and Licinius (cemented by Licinius marrying Constantia). Since the SAPIENTIA type copies an Arles solidus type (also issued for both Constantine & Licinius), it suggests a date after the death of Maximinus II (who does not appear at Arles) in 313. It's tempting to connect these types to the "edict of Milan", but given that Daia was still alive at the time of Licininius' visit to Milan, they may have been issued a bit later, even if that is what the SAPIENTIA type alludes to. Alternatively maybe these are just celebrating the alliance?

The bare headed busts would seem related to the reason/occasion for issue, and seems to fit well with a message of peaceful accord and familial connection - the propaganda message seems to be that this is a personal relationship. There is also an unlisted Trier fraction (featured on the cover of one of Zschucke's books) with bare headed busts that may be related to same occasion.

I agree these are hard to find in high grade (I haven't even bothered to acquire them myself), but some like the ones below are decent, so maybe there is nothing unusual there. The SAPIENTIA reverse (esp. owl!) is often poorly done, but that seems mainly due to the size (with this one smaller than the other two).
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General Discussion / Re: Fel Temp Reparatio "One captive"
« Last post by Fel Temp Reparatio on January 31, 2024, 05:15:56 PM »
Thanks to everyone for contributions to the discussion.
This type is rarer for Costantius Gallus,  it seems to me:

https://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-83650.htm

(don’t know yet attach pictures and links, sorry)

Goodnight
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General Discussion / Re: FRACTIONAL ISSUES OF 313
« Last post by Victor on January 31, 2024, 04:45:49 PM »
A guess as to why he is bare-headed...maybe to seem more peaceful. Helmeted busts are pretty martial and a laureate bust still says "hey, I'm the Emperor" but the bare head is very laid back and casual.
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General Discussion / FRACTIONAL ISSUES OF 313
« Last post by Gavin on January 31, 2024, 03:02:32 PM »
I lurk periodically on this discussion board and contribute little, so I probably don’t deserve the board’s wisdom here. But I wanted to visit the fractional issues of Constantine ca. 313, shortly after his defeat of Maxentius.

I’ve made a composite photo of the coins in question, I think from Victor's images. The three coins have FVNDAT PACIS, GLORIA PERPET, and SAPIENT PRINCIPIS reverses. Victor has a nice page on these: http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/pacis/

Still, I have some lingering questions. I’d be grateful for any input or idle speculation.

1.   My first question is pretty banal. I’ve just never seen a nice one of these. The details are always soft, or the strike is shallow, or there is a lot of wear. Is there any logical accounting for this anecdotal observation? Is this phenomenon simply a function of having a small surviving pool of coins to begin with, or were these coins poorly produced from the start?

2.   Why is Constantine bare-headed on all three coins? I suppose one answer is that the bare-headed obverse bust somehow correlates to the unusual denomination, not unlike the radiate bust on the VIRT EXERCIT GALL fractional issue of about the same time. (But note that the fractional PACI PERPET coin has a laureate bust.) I feel like there must some occasional reason why the obverse bust is bareheaded, as if such a portrait conveyed a greater sense of sacredness, though sacredness is usually indicated by a covered head in Roman iconography. I find the bareheaded bust enigmatic.

Rome and Trier were the only two mints to strike these coins. It appears that they were struck for both Constantine and Licinius at Rome (RIC VII, p. 297), but only for Constantine at Trier (RIC VII, p. 169). Again, I’m speaking anecdotally, but it seems that the coins for Licinius and all those from Trier are much rarer than Constantine issues struck at Rome.

Any thoughts about the above?

Gavin

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General Discussion / Re: Fel Temp Reparatio "One captive"
« Last post by Victor on January 31, 2024, 01:55:45 PM »
Well maybe not posterity...but at least a few more years.  ;D
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General Discussion / Re: Fel Temp Reparatio "One captive"
« Last post by Gavin on January 31, 2024, 11:28:01 AM »
Well, if we are thinking about posterity, I will go ahead and upload my example.

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COTD / Maximinus II IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN from Siscia...ex-Salton
« Last post by Victor on January 31, 2024, 10:52:30 AM »
This coin is not anything special; but it is ex-Salton; which is neat because the Salton's collected some fancy high end pedigreed coins...and then for something completely different-- this one.  ;D


Maximinus II
A.D. 313
Ӕ follis   23mm      3.2g
IMP MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate, cuirassed and draped bust right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN, Jupiter leaning on sceptre and holding Victory on globe in r. hand; eagle with wreath to l. on ground; in r. field Γ.
in ex. SIS
RIC VI Siscia 234b

Ex. SALTON Collection
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coins of the Crusaders / Re: Tancred coin from Antioch
« Last post by Victor on January 30, 2024, 05:35:43 PM »
just received and here is the new picture

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