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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,314 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
OK, I know this is Licinus I and I believe it is RIC 29, but I'm not sure of that. If you know better please let me know. Anyway, I cannot make out the letters in exergue. They are RT, RS or RQ. I won't say which way I'm leaning so as not to bias anyone. Thanks in advance for taking a shot at this. JW   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Is it possible it could be a zigzag? If not I'd say it's just looks like a fancy-looking T.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Interesting - I think its blundered. It resembles a 'V' with a top and bottom horizontal line on it, I cant really see how P, S, T or Q could fit although I've seen some pretty funky 'Q's in my time.
Its not unknown for 'V' to be used as Officinae 5 but it would be almost unique on these coins and should prob be discounted. I'll see if I can find out what was being produced in the other Officinae at Rome around this time and I'll also see what symbols were being used on the Constantine Sols.
One interesting thing I did notice is that some of the Ss and Ts in the coins other legends are also badly produced, along with many of the other letters, maybe the die cutter was just not a particularly able one.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
I hadn't even considered 'Z' Jango! This could indicate workshop 7, again though it would be unique for this issue but I'll add it to my above points when I look at Constantines Sols.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4253 Posts |
Now that I have some input, I think it looks like a "q" perhaps to the side. Hmmmmm  I have some more to post so keep looking. Thanks JW |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
Looks like a Roman numeral 5 (V) to me.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I'm thinking it might be are * T with the star struck over the T.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
If it is indeed are * T, the only reference would be Rome RIV VII 23. That does seem like a possibility. Any other suggestions?
JW
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
As far as I can tell only 5 workshops were in use (or at least marked onto coins of this approx size) in Rome around the time that the above coin was made.
Workshop 5 was reflected by 'Ɛ' so the 'V' theory is wrong as they were not using that series of marks.
None of the more common Constantine Sols or the less common Maximinus ones show anything in the mint marks that could be confused with the marks on the above coin. They also both only use P, S, T and Q to distinguish workshops.
What echizento says could well be correct, Rome did use 'R*' during this period on some of Constantines Sols and maybe this die was cut incorrectly (with it being Licinius) and someone attempted to save it by altering the die, albeit very poorly.
The most likely, but least interesting theory is prob just that the die cutter was not very capable, the Sol issues from Rome around this time are not particularly high quality coins and as seen on the above 'SOLI INVICTO' can often just look like a lot if vertical lines. This die has poorly cut Ss and Ts so its possible he messed the workshop mark up too.
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
When you've eliminated all other possibilities...I would go with the "S" (RIC VII Rome 3), since the left field and right field would also go along with that assumption. The letter "S" is one of the most difficult to render on a coin...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Have you looked at it under a microscope? I'd guess T but it would be good to know what is legend and what is crust. There are 'overdates'. Maybe you have a T over Q? I have one (left below - excuse the extra coin, this is an illustration from my page on FEL TEMP types).  |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,314 |
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Posted 09/11/2011 3:52 pm
