Late Roman Bronze Coins

Coin talk => Identification => Topic started by: alvarof27 on October 01, 2015, 03:01:47 AM

Title: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: alvarof27 on October 01, 2015, 03:01:47 AM
Ok I think I got this one, but since I have not done this very often I would like to hear someone's opinion... ID, or ruler, or legends...  oh and especially the MINTMARK

Thank you!!
Title: Re: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: six2ten on October 01, 2015, 06:25:09 AM
Constantius II, Rome mint
Title: Re: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: Victor on October 01, 2015, 10:08:04 AM
Yes, Constantius II from the Rome mint.

Constantius II
A.D. 352- 355
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG; pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right, B behind bust.
FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO Soldier spearing fallen horseman, Γ in left field.
In exergue R wreath P
RIC VIII Rome 256
Title: Re: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: alvarof27 on October 01, 2015, 12:14:04 PM
Thank you Victor and six2ten!!

I want to ask you about the mintmark: what does R wreath P mean? R stands for Rome but the others...

And is it official? The face looked a little schematic to me, also the fel temp re- part seems very badly written...

Cheers!
Title: Re: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: Victor on October 01, 2015, 12:24:42 PM
Quote from: alvarof27 on October 01, 2015, 12:14:04 PM
I want to ask you about the mintmark: what does R wreath P mean? R stands for Rome but the others...

The P denotes the officina or workshop that minted this coin. At this time, there were seven workshops in the Rome mint- P, B, T, Q, E, S, and Z.

The wreath doesn't stand for anything it is just a symbol to differentiate this issue from others. The Romans used many different symbols like wreaths, stars, dots, crescents and palm branches on the FTR coins.
Title: Re: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: alvarof27 on October 01, 2015, 12:33:35 PM
Again, thanks so much for your information!

And what about the B behind bust and the gamma? What do they stand for?

Thank you!!
Title: Re: ID coin help- Constantius II FTR from Rome
Post by: Victor on October 01, 2015, 12:53:42 PM
Quote from: alvarof27 on October 01, 2015, 12:33:35 PM

And what about the B behind bust and the gamma? What do they stand for?


Those are control marks and serve an internal function, like accountability. Without all these different marks, officials would not know who minted which coins, but control marks allowed them to know who was responsible; for example if coins came up lighter than allowed, meaning someone was perhaps shorting the coins and keeping some of the metal, they would know who minted the coins.

On the FTR, most of the busts have no letter behind them, but you will also find A, B, delta, epsilon and M. On the reverse, there are many different marks possible.