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Constantine I PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS from London

Started by Victor, December 12, 2024, 08:55:13 AM

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Victor

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

Constantine_London_233.jpg


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

Heliodromus

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?!