Late Roman Bronze Coins

Coin talk => Late Roman Bronze coins => Topic started by: seth on July 18, 2014, 03:20:53 AM

Title: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on July 18, 2014, 03:20:53 AM
Here are the latest additions to the BEATA type:


CONSTANTINE II AE3 19mm 3.18g Follis/Nummus

OBV: CONSTANTINVS · IVN · COS · II · laureate, draped, wearing trabea, Victory on globe in r. hand bust l.

REV: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS; altar with globe above, 3 stars above the globe, inscribed with VO/TIS/XX; C - R in fields

EXE: PLG, Lugdunum mint.

REF: RIC VII Lugdunum/Lyons 141, rated R4 (close to an actual rarity I'd say) 321AD.
Very rare dated issue from Constantine II's 2nd consulship. This type of bust is misdescribed in RIC as I1 but it only has the Victory on globe as adjuncts, no others in his left hand.

and:

CONSTANTINE II AE3 18mm 2.8g Follis/Nummus

CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; laureate, draped, wearing trabea, victory on globe in right hand, sceptre raised in left hand bust l.

REV: BEATA TRAN *** QVILLITAS; altar w/ globe, inscribed w/ VO/TIS/XX

EXE: ·PTR crescent, Trier mint.

REF: RIC VII Trier - unlisted for the bust type, which is either not recorded in RIC or misrecorded. Should be after RIC VII Trier 410, very rare R5. 323AD.

Lech suggested that this bust type is actually the I2 recorded in RIC but misdescribed.
I think it's a very interesting and intriguing issue, insufficiently studied. I don't have RMBT so this is the only example I have seen of the type w/ bust left.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Genio popvli romani on July 18, 2014, 12:02:31 PM
Great new additions !!
First one is Bastien 96 (4ex.) seems to be same obverse die as illustrated 96a.
Second one is RMBT 141 (1ex.) seems also to share the same obverse die with the illustrated coin.
I'll add picture to compare.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Genio popvli romani on July 18, 2014, 12:23:34 PM
Here they are.
And finally, your Lyon obverse coin is different from Bastien 96b.
But same obverse die confirmed for your Trier coin.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on July 18, 2014, 04:13:55 PM
Thank you for taking the time to provide the references, Genio!
I was expecting the Lyon COS II type to be rarer.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Genio popvli romani on July 18, 2014, 05:30:53 PM
I was expecting the Lyon COS II type to be rarer.

I was too ! But it gives you the opportunity to look for RIC.143 & 144 both known for only 1ex. in Bastien.  ;)
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on September 12, 2014, 04:26:40 PM
This coin is also a rare one, should be listed as an "Irregular" issue cf RIC:

CONSTANTINE II AE3 18mm 2.91g Follis/Nummus (aVF/F)

AV: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; laureate, cuirassed, aegis on cuirass, holding Victory on globe in r. hand and mappa (?) and puggio on left arm bust l.

REV: BEATA TRAN *** QVILLITAS; altar with globe, inscribed with VOT/IS/XX.

EXE: ·STR Trier mint.

REF: RIC VII unlisted, closest match being Trier 420 (but with VO/TIS), which is rated R5 321-323AD.

Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: six2ten on September 13, 2014, 03:01:06 AM
Not sure whether this thread is for your coins only Seth so apologies for hijacking thread if so, but thought you might be interested in this one.

Should be after RIC 134, unlisted bust type (G5), and not listed by Bastien but noted by Lech on not in RIC - ex CGB
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on September 13, 2014, 06:21:41 AM
Hi six2ten, excellent coin. Very rare and in great shape.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on November 07, 2014, 10:31:58 AM
This one appears to be unrecorded for Licinius II at Lyon:

 LICINIUS II AE3 18mm 2.63g Follis (F, patina)
AV: LICINIVS - IVN NOB C; laureate cuirassed bust r.

REV: BEATA TRAN *** QVLITAS; globe on altar inscribed with VO/TIS/XX, C - R in fields

EXE: PLG, Lugdunum mint.

REF: unlisted in RIC, there is one other similar coin from Licinius II from Lugdunum, but with different bust type and obverse/reverse legends, recorded by NOT IN RIC (http://notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7lyo-205.html). Possibly unique. Should be after RIC VII Lugdunum 205, 323AD.

Could it be an unofficial issue?
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Victor on November 07, 2014, 10:33:44 AM
Could it be an unofficial issue?

The bust looks irregular, so I think it is most likely unofficial.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on November 07, 2014, 10:52:43 AM
Thanks, I was kind of hoping it'd be an official unrecorded issue.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on December 23, 2014, 01:10:16 PM
Hi,

This is newest addition to the BEATA TRANQVILLITAS:

CONSTANTINE II AE3 18mm 3.05g Follis/Nummus (aVF, sand patina)

AV: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; laureate, draped, wearing trabea, victory on globe in right hand, sceptre raised in left hand bust l.

REV: BEATA TRAN *** QVILLITAS; altar w/ globe, inscribed w/ VO/TIS/XX

EXE: ·STR· Trier mint.

REF: RIC VII Trier - unlisted for the bust type, which is either not recorded in RIC or misrecorded. Should be after RIC VII Trier 382. Rare. 322-323AD.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Victor on December 23, 2014, 02:08:46 PM
REF: RIC VII Trier - unlisted for the bust type, which is either not recorded in RIC or misrecorded. Should be after RIC VII Trier 382. Rare. 322-323AD.

Your coin is in RMBT as #89
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on December 23, 2014, 02:49:41 PM
Thank you for the reference.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Genio popvli romani on December 24, 2014, 01:04:39 AM
Nice one!
The design of the trabea seems also unusual.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on January 13, 2015, 02:28:18 PM
Newest addition to BEATA. I have won this one yesterday from well-known French auction site and I can't wait to get it:

CRISPUS AE3 19mm 3g Follis/Nummus (aXF, sand patina)

AV: CRISPVS-NOB CAES; helmeted, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on l. arm bust r.

REV: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX in three lines; above, three stars. C in left field, R in right field.

EXE: PLG, Lugdunum mint.

REF: Bastien 83 pl. VI (2ex. recorded), unlisted in RIC for obv. legend, should have been listed after RIC VII Lyons 134, 3 other examples recorded in NOT IN RIC (http://notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7lyo-134.html), rare variation of a rare type, extraordinary bust type, very rare 322-323AD.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Victor on January 13, 2015, 05:01:11 PM
Newest addition to BEATA.

Congrats on your new coin
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on March 10, 2015, 08:35:11 AM
I might have made a mistake, but as the "patina" on this coin was just sandy dust that easily flaked off, I decided to actively remove it rather than having a little bit of it coming off every time I handled the coin. Underneath the dirt there was a thin layer of silvering, more visible on the reverse, while the obverse has more of a dark-green patina.
This is the final result:
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Victor on March 10, 2015, 09:44:09 PM
I might have made a mistake, but as the "patina" on this coin was just sandy dust that easily flaked off

I think it turned out pretty good.
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: Genio popvli romani on March 11, 2015, 04:08:01 PM
I do believe that you made the good choice....and a great work.
I did not see this new addition. Congratulations.
Note that you coin is matching dies with Bastien 83a (British Museum).
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on March 11, 2015, 06:22:32 PM
Thank you!
I was really starting to second guess my decision. Thank you Genio for the further reference!
Title: Re: Latest BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Post by: seth on April 07, 2015, 08:16:16 AM
This one is in need of further examination to see whether it's official or irregular, but regardless, very interesting for the bust type.

CONSTANTINE II AE3 18mm 2.12g Follis/Nummus

AV: CONSTANTINVS IVN N C; half-length bust r. laureate, draped and cuirassed with spear pointing forward, globe in left hand.

REV: BEAT TRA-NQLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VOT/IS/XX

EXE: PLON London mint.

REF: Unlisted in RIC for bust type, should've been after RIC VII London 288. Extremely rare, maybe unique, no other specimen recorded. 323-324AD.