Late Roman Bronze Coins

Coin talk => COTD => Topic started by: Adriaan78 on April 23, 2023, 02:27:31 PM

Title: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Adriaan78 on April 23, 2023, 02:27:31 PM
It took me some time but finally I was able to acquire one of my "holy grail" coins. I think it is a one of the better examples out there. Although the coin is not as rare as I first suspected it was though to find a decent one. It is often described as the emperor spearing a lion but actually the emperor has ahis right hand raised raised hand. It was probably struck to celebrate Constantine's decennalia.


Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Victor on April 23, 2023, 02:55:27 PM
congrats...it's an extraordinary coin.
Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Gavin on April 26, 2023, 08:56:26 AM
That is an amazing coin in amazing condition. Wonderfully detailed reverse.
Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Heliodromus on April 27, 2023, 12:09:10 PM
Great coin - super quality!

The emperor has already flung his spear - now sticking in side of the lion!

It's interesting that officina "T" always have the emperor holding shield, and P/S/Q never. Maybe single engraver per officina.

I'm curious where you found this one - didn't notice it in any auction - was it a local buy ?
Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Lech Stępniewski on August 08, 2023, 08:59:56 AM
Quote from: Heliodromus on April 27, 2023, 12:09:10 PM
It's interesting that officina "T" always have the emperor holding shield, and P/S/Q never. Maybe single engraver per officina.

Not always true.

(https://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7rom-17_2_b5_s_zoom.jpg)

That is why I am not sure that on Adriaan78's coin officina letter is T.

Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Heliodromus on August 08, 2023, 09:07:35 AM
Yes - I forgot about that specimen, but it's the only one out of 35 I have photos for that doesn't follow the pattern.
Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Adriaan78 on August 10, 2023, 07:59:39 AM
Ah! I did not know that… I thought all examples with a shield were from officina T. Knowing  this I think the officina letter could very well be S… I found a nice article on these coins with a lot of examples (although the text was in French…). After comparing I will tentatively label the coin with officina S!
Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Heliodromus on August 10, 2023, 09:32:45 AM
Quote from: Adriaan78 on August 10, 2023, 07:59:39 AM
After comparing I will tentatively label the coin with officina S!

Yes - after looking a bit closer, that seems to be correct. The bust styles are quite different between officinas, and yours is a good match for "S".
Title: Re: Liberator Orbis
Post by: Heliodromus on August 10, 2023, 12:01:59 PM
Similarly, based on bust style, I think the top coin below, from British Museum, must also be officina S.

So that's three different officina S obv dies with the shield.