Late Roman Bronze Coins

Coin talk => COTD => Topic started by: Victor on December 12, 2024, 08:55:13 AM

Title: Constantine I PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS from London
Post by: Victor on December 12, 2024, 08:55:13 AM

Here's another coin that should be a consular bust with a trabea; but it looks cuirassed.

Constantine I
A.D. 311- 312
Ӕ nummus 23mm 4.0g
CONSTANTINVS AG; Laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding eagle-tipped scepter in his right hand.
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Prince standing facing head left, in military dress with cloak hanging over left shoulder, holding globe in right, reversed spear in left; ✶ in right field.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 233 corr. (bust type).; LMCC 7.07.038

Title: Re: Constantine I PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS from London
Post by: Heliodromus on December 13, 2024, 10:02:47 AM

Yeah, the shoulder ptergues, and shoulder straps (connecting breastplate to backplate) which end before the bottom of the bust are the giveaways, although some of these depictions do seem a bit confused, with decorated shoulder straps looking very similar to the decorated edges of a consular trabea. It doesn't help that what's being worn underneath a consular trabea often appears indistinguishable from a breastplate, when it's probably intended to be a tunic.

I wonder how often these British yokels even saw an emperor in consular garb?! What were they basing the depiction on?!