British Invasion Coinage Of Constantius

Another post invasion London coin - Diocletian:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/11067544756..._1468wt_1139

And a very well priced Galerius post invasion London coin here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/32059697183...t_1898wt_905

A less well priced Galerius Here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36036889573...t_1868wt_905

And another Diocletian here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36028109527...t_1343wt_905

This one has a much nicer bust than the top one - something looks amiss about the style on the top one.

Ian wrote:


IMO both are nice coins from the photos, Ian -- correctly attributed -- well centered -- good surfaces -- easily readable inscriptions -- again, just thy way I like 'em! The latter two coins in your posting merit a lot more discussion which I will start in a separate post.

BTW, Ian, there are two somewhat stylistic differences for RIC Volume VI, Londinium, Group I, class II (small head on a tall neck) DIOCLETIAN, No. 6a coins as illustrated below. The one I have identified as Die A (there were undoubtedly several dies, I am just using this for discussion purposes) is the one illustrated on Plate I in RIC, Volume VI and therefor may be considered the type. Die B coins, featuring a bust with a somewhat larger head and shorter, thicker neck are frequently encountered variants.


RIC Volume VI, Londinium, DIOCLETIAN, No. 6a (die A)

IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG .................................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI


nominal size of coin

RIC Volume VI, Londinium, DIOCLETIAN, No. 6a (Die B)

IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG .................................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI


nominal size of coin



James

Let me address this post first. A short answer to your question is that much of the early unmarked coinage was produced at the London Mint using British die engravers and other workers, formerly employed by the Carausius - Allectus Mints, now supervised and mixed in with Lugdunese mint workers who accompanied the Constantius invasion force. More detailed information relating to your question can be found here:

THE BRITANNIC COINAGE OF CONSTANTIUS -- POST-INVASION COINAGE PRODUCED IN BRITAIN

A lot of reading I know, but it is beyond the purview of posting on this Forum to cover all the necessary (and voluminous) information.

James

This ones a little confusing:

http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/timem...Product=4344

I'd say eastern mint, Siscia? maybe even Carthage? by the size of the head and strong beard. I'm also guessing it should have a mintmark on it or at least a field mark.

No confusion. Mint mark precludes Lugdunum Invasion coin.

James

BTW, cgb (France) are purveyors of high quality coins, although they are often pricey! I believe I paid $800 for the EF fully silvered Constantius, RIC VI, Lugdunum, no. 17a follis (Invasion coinage) that I illustrate on my web page some ten years or so ago. Incidentally, cgb always attributes these coins to "Boulogne Mint" although nobody else -- including Bastien -- seems to do.

James

Well, having spent the last 2 months searching hi and low for these coins (only finding 3 and buying 2 of those) I think I may have finally snagged another one:



The picture is awful, low res and I very much doubt the colours are 'true' but I do think its an invasion coin. Condition doesn't look great but who knows with the picture - I may be pleasantly surprised when it arrives. I had to buy a number of coins to get this one as it was in a lot and I'm hoping there are no surprises when I get it in hand and it is:

Maximian
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG - Bust right, laureate, cuirassed, from front
GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI - Genius naked standing left, modius on head, holding patera and cornucopiae, chlamys over left shoulder
RIC VI Lyons 14b - Minted 295-296 - 'Continental Field Mint Lyon'

Rated common in RIC but felt far from that over the last 2 months.

I could just be showing my naivety in this subject and could embarrass myself but...

...could the RIC 15s, 16s, 18s, 19s, and 20s be, for the want of a better phrase 'Invasion Coins' phase II and possibly III?

When Constantius invaded nobody would have known the outcome, Maximian knew this only too well, he tried and failed a few years earlier. Could the 14s and 17s have been produced to cover only the initial invasion, if this was a failure then no more coinage would be needed. If he was successful more coins would be needed to quickly fill towns and economies until local mints were at full production.

As Constantius conquered more and more land and populations its sensible to assume more and more currency would be needed. Could these coins either be a deliberately delayed planned action from the 'continental field mint' or even the Lyons workers minting as they travelled Britain with the conquering invasion army?

I have no idea if this idea has been explored before but not found anything similar on the net so far.