Discovered Roman Coins In A Storage Locker -Constantine, Etc

Well that's a nice little discovery, vonhova.

Welcome.

For the first coin go here http://www.acsearch.info/index.html

and type VOT Wreath in the search box. Scroll down till you find the match to your coin.

It's a long way of doing it but you'll see a lot of coins.

If you add Constantine I (echizento's hunch) to the search it might go faster.

Be careful, you might get started collecting ancient coins.

Never heard of them - a lot of companies pop up then disappear.




Yes - your coins are real.




Don't bother, amateur ancient collectors often know more than the big grading companies and grading scales are rarely considered when buying.

The coin in your link is a Philip not a Gordian like your coin, yours is:

Gordian III AR Antoninianus.
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
PM TR P IIII COS II PP, Gordian standing right with globe & spear.

Very similar, but not the same to this one:



Price wise, the seller in the link you posted usually triples his prices so dont read too much into that, I'd say $5-10 for 1 (which as echizento says is very likely Constantine) and 3 and around $50-75 for coin 2.

Not quite.

Notice on the reverse of your coin there are letters that read .....constantin.....

Find the letters that match, both obv. and rev.

I think you were correct first time around vonhova.

CONSTAN-TINVS AVG - Bust right, laureate.
DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG - Rough translation 'Our lords the Constantines, greatest Augustii'.
VOT XX - Rough translation 'I vow to rule for twenty years'.

Not 100% sure but your mintmark looks like P Star-in-crescent A - 'P' stands for Prima meaning workshop no 1, 'Star-in-crescent' is just a series identifier and 'A' stands for the mint it was made in, Arles.

Sorry bout that. I should have looked closer at the OP coin and the links.

The reverse looks like PAX AVG if that helps.

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/probus/t.html

Its a big page! I suggest ctrl+f

I am thinking the Gordian is as follows:

http://www.beastcoins.com/RomanImpe...rdianIII.htm

Gordian III, AR Antoninianus, 241-243, Fourth Issue, Rome
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
P M TR P VI COS II P P
Gordian, in military dress, standing right, spear pointing forward in right hand, globe in left
22mm x 24mm, 3.84g
RIC IV, Part III, 94 (S)


There are 5 similar coins 1/4 down on the web page linked above. I think that this might be the closest match. Overall it really makes you put things into perspective when your holding something that was made 241 years AD.

Pretty much, yes, but there is a slight difference to your coin:

Your coin is 'P M TR P IIII COS II P P' whereas the one you linnked to is 'P M TR P VI COS II P P'.

These numbers relate to Gordians powers and length of service in various offices, your coin is 4 and the one you linked to is 6 so was made later.

Here is a breakdown of your reverse legend - P M TR P IIII COS II P P:


Pontifex Maximus - greatest priest (i.e. the supreme head of the roman religion. Title often held by the (most senior) ruler. If there was more than one ruler then the others were simply PONTIFEX. In disuse after the empire became Christian)

Tribunicia Potestas - Tribune of the plebs, frequently followed by a numeral (on your coin 4) to denote term, refers to the right to convene an assembly of the plebs, also gave the power to veto the senate. It made the Emperor civil head of the state. Usually awarded annually.

CONsul - Annually renewable job, In your case, 2 terms.

Pater Patriae - Father of his country.

Here is an exact match for your coin:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s8646.html




Your right, it does put things in perspective - glad your hooked