Another PERPETVA VIRTVS

[Per D]

As Victor noted in an earlier post, the PERPETVA VIRTVS type from Ticinum (RIC 88) is quite scarce, even though Sutherland describes it as common (Cohen valued it at 5 Fr, which seems reasonable). I had wanted to add one to my collection of Maxentian coins and couldn't resist this coin, despite the rough surfaces, when it came up for auction a couple of weeks ago.

I ended up paying quite a bit more than expected for it, but as a weak rationalization I note this is a very rare variant with the left wreath tie curved upwards. I can't imagine many people care about such things, but this is the kind of detail one finds in Le monnayage de Maxence by Vincent Drost (who recorded one other specimen from officina T).

Ticinum (2nd emission of folles, late summer – early fall 307)
Follis
Laureate head right. CONSTANTINVSNOBCAES
Mars advancing right with transverse spear in right hand, shield on left arm. PERPETV-AVIRTVS. TT in exergue.
25,5 mm. 4,87 gm.
RIC VI: 88; Drost p. 292, no. 11a; Sear 15543

[Victor]

congrats, it looks like a great coin.

[Per D]

Thank you. There's nothing as common as a rare LRBC, as they say.

[Nikko]

Congratz, a nice catch. Ticinum mint offers few but really interesting reverse types.

I ignored this rare variant.

[Per D]

Hi Nikko,

Yes, and when you start looking at small differences (like the design of wreath ties or legend breaks), the number becomes enormous. I often wonder when changes in design were deliberate and meaningful ("sub-types"), and when they were random ("variants").