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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,004 |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
Hi and sorry, new at this but picking up interest pretty fast! So I've been learning about ancient coins all night and thus far, this seems to look like a Valentinianus II or III, and I was hoping someone could confirm. Srry if pics are a little blurry, I don't have a good camera. Obverse portrait faces right, the curaiss of the bust is very clear, a diadem is visible, but the text is very faded along the edge but I can make out a PFAVG at the end and a V in the first section. Reverse seems to be a victory advancing left, holding a trophy, dragging a captive and the reverse legend appears to end in AE. It has a clear Delta under the captive, and to the left edge is a P turned into a cross; the cross portions the edges seem to be flanged like an ankh. the coin diameter is about 5mm smaller than a dime, and very thin. Thanks ahead of time for looking!    Edited by randommike
08/02/2013 02:35 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
 If you're sure its a delta in the ex, then it can be one of 3 coins. Its definitely Theodosius I - at the top left of the obverse survives -SIVS - this is only seen on Theodosius' coins and Theodosius II doesn't seem to have issued this type. Its also definitely SALVS REIPVBLICAE, and the P made into a cross is a Chi-Rho, an early christian icon. Depending on the other letters in the Ex, its from different mints: ALED (Alexandria), ANTD (Antioch) or SMKD (Cyzicus) are the mints recorded for the type. all 3 are designated common. From Helvetica's RIC lists. Very useful. Heres the one on SALVS REIPVBLICAE: http://www.catbikes.ch/coinstuff/vi...-captive.xls |
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New Member
 United States
3 Posts |
Thanks for the response Ben. I am 100% certain of the delta; it is visible in both my bottom two images, but there is no visible text next to it. I took a new picture (one of these days I'll get myself a nice SLR and a decent macro lense) and bumped up the contrast on it a bit. Delta and the Chi-Ro (thanks for the name for the symbol!) are very well visible, as is most the reverse text. I can see nothing in the ex except ∆  http://prntscr.com/1iyua0resolution for forum is a bit small, here's my contrasted one above. Also I am running the RIC list and using the sort filters. Filtered bust to PDC, reverse legend SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, trophy on shoulder, chi-rho only for left field, and mint mark I included all four that contain a delta. I'm still left with about 10 different RICs. How do I filter further from here, or am I SOL if the mint mark text is too faded? Edited by randommike
08/02/2013 11:07 am
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
to the community Noting to add Ben got the ID covered, just wanted to welcome you. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
 .... Ben sealed this one... He is one of our more skilled members in the area of Late Roman Bronzes. He also has an uncanny ability to read/extrapolate partial legends. I just wanted to say welcome Mike. So what got you into ancient coins? The coin you posted is quite nice for the era. Hope you stick around... |
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New Member
United States
3 Posts |
Thanks for the welcomes.
I wandered into this coin and thoguht it was just REALLY cool and it ended up in my lockbox with all my other random nick nacks (pins, gems, stones, etc).
So I ended up cleaning out my box yesterday, saw this wedged in the side and it caught my interest. I started researching what I could make out on it, and basics of ancient coins. Found your forum along the way and registered to post my little coin.
Gotta say, it's pretty cool to be holding something crafted 1,600+ years old, even if its so tiny and designated common.
I am assuming since I cannot read the rest of the mint mark I won't be able to limit down which of the three it is? I am thinking of putting it on a pendant for my three year old daughter to wear as a necklace; it would be cool to know which one it was (if possible)
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
If you want one for jewellery, many coins were holed in ancient times for wearing as jewellery. Native brits did it a lot after the romans left. Its pretty cheap to get such holed coins - many sellers of uncleaned coins sell them in batched of a couple of kilos once the good coins are sold.
And no, not much chance of working out the mint. These mints are too close to be able to accurately differentiate between them without looking at hundreds of coins.
I tell you what - PM me, I might have a little something which would go better on a pendant.
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,004 |
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Posted 08/02/2013 10:18 am
