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 Replies: 36 / Views: 4,581 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2044 Posts |
Here is the original uncleaned version.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
SM sacra moneta TS Thessalonica delta workshop 4 - rasiel's image is SMTSB or workshop 2 By chance mine is SMTSgamma or workshop 3  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I don't own the Constans version of this coin, but I do have the Constantius II coin: RIC VIII 99   Edited by Bing
11/25/2011 11:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Thanks for telling me what that means. Sacra moneta is apparently "sacred money".
The coin came in a 2x2 with a small card that says the size of the coin and unattributed. But now I'm wondering how I should format the information on that small card.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I have seen that Constantius II version that is your coin while I was searching for mine.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I just received the last two of the three in the mail today. I just scanned both of them and here are the scans.   I'm going to be attributing them now. The first one I'm cleaning it with peroxide, but I'm not sure if I like the results of it right now. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
The first coin, I'm having difficulties reading the legend on both sides. But I think it's a Valens. Siscia RIC 7b,ii Valens AE3. 364-367 AD. D N VALENS P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath & palm, •ASISC in ex. Cohen 37.  Edited by Gil-galad
11/30/2011 1:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I believe that the second one is Constantine I Thessalonica RIC VII 153 Constantine AE3. CONSTANTINVS AVG, diademed head right / PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets and star above, dot to right, SMTSA (or B, G, D, e) in ex. RIC VII 153 of Thessalonica, Cohen 454. There are a few things that throw me off about this coin. There are a few differences such as the star on the reverse between the two turrets being higher than the photo of this ID.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
I was confused at first but then worked out the blue background pics must be from Wildwinds or some similar resource. Quote:
The first coin, I'm having difficulties reading the legend on both sides. But I think it's a Valens. Correct - it is Valens and your attribution is also correct. Quote:
I believe that the second one is Constantine I Again correct description-wise but I think your RIC number should be RIC VII Thessalonica 154. 153 is the 'laureate' version where I think your coin is the 'rosette-diadem' type. Its sometimes hard to tell but your coin shows the two clear bands that would indicate a diadem. Quote:
There are a few differences such as the star on the reverse between the two turrets being higher than the photo of this ID You will find a number of small differences in the coins of this RIC number, indeed most individual RIC numbers, the stars and dots etc signify an 'issue' but as long as these details are present individual dies styles can vary quite a bit but still be part of this 'issue'. Edited by bobbyhelmet
11/30/2011 3:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
background pics must be from Wildwinds I wasn't 100% sure about the laureate / diademed issue so had a quick look on Wildwinds, unfortunately they have mis-described one of the two 153 coins that they have on there. 153, according to RIC can only be laureate but they have a coin attributed to this number but described as 'diademed'! I know a lot of people like using Wildwinds but I find it littered with errors, too many errors to the point where I ask myself is no information better than incorrect information! If people often wonder why so many coins on ebay are mis-attributed I suggest this site is the reason. Back to your coin, let a few others chime in with if they think its laureate (153) or diademed (154) before making a final decision. Some might think its 'splitting hairs' but its always nice to 100% ID a coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Thank you so much for the information. And sorry about the confusion. I will state where the photo came from the next time. Yes, I noticed some inaccurate listings as well. I ran across one that had the same exact description (two in a row) but they were obviously different coins. It looks diademed to me but perhaps I am wrong. I am new to this. lol There are three lines, the bottom and top are more bold and the line in the middle is a bit faint. Wildwinds photo: RIC VII 154  I don't think it's 154 because in 154 there are what looks to be steps at the bottom of the camp gate. Also, with my coin in hand the crown or whatever you want to call it doesn't look like a rosette-diadem. I thought that a laureate has leaves and such for a crown. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
I don't think it's 154 because in 154 there are what looks to be steps at the bottom of the camp gate Correct for the coin shown above but 154 (SMTSA) comes in 3 slightly different varieties: 1. 6 to 8 layers 2. 6 to 8 layers, dots in arches in top layer 3. 6 to 8 layers, dots in arches in top layer, with base The coin pictured on WW is No.3, your coin could be No.1. While I would probably argue your coin was diademed rather than laureate I would hesitate to say it was rosette-diademed. In deciding between 153 and 154 it must be laureate or rosette-diademed. 100% IDing these can often be infuriating and sometimes not possible at all due to issues like this! Quote:
I thought that a laureate has leaves and such for a crown Correct. Edited by bobbyhelmet
11/30/2011 4:10 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
As I said earlier about cleaning one of the coins. I'm not sure if I like the results as it had unintended results. It removed the black patina from the coin and left it in patches that kind of makes it look ugly. I'm definitely going to be more careful about cleaning these coins from now on. The main reason why I cleaned it is because I wanted to be able to read the legends better and reveal more detail.  Now that I think about it, I would rather have it black again. But I would settle for all the black patches removed. Except that I haven't been able to get them off without damaging the coin. Don't want to do that. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Still trying to get a real ID on the Constantine I campgate coin. I realize that a lot of ancient coins can be different because of the different dies but this coin I have is not matching up exactly to any reference that I have access to. But for now, I will use RIC VII 154.
When I first saw this coin and then when I looked it up I got a rather different impression. It didn't seem like to me that calling it a campgate was quite right. That "campgate" seems like a tower to me and on top are beacons and the star provides light. Back in the ancient days, a lot of towers were square instead of round. Not sure how towers were in Rome though. One article I read called it a watch tower.
I didn't really want to say anything at first because I heard there has been a lot of debate about this coin.
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Posted 11/25/2011 9:53 pm
