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 Replies: 18 / Views: 3,149 |
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
I am having trouble (eyes) reading the letters in the exergue to determine the mintmark on this coin. Will someone out there who has sharper eyes than mine help me out please. I need the m/m to find the 'RIC' number. Here is the exergue through a microscope. (I have also included photos of the coin in case you can read that more easily. The m/m appears (to me) to be S(Star)T(Epsilon) but my eyes are not what they used to be, hence the microscope. The Obv. legend looks to be CONSTANTIVSPFAVG and the Rev. legend GLORIA EXERCITVS, so 'Constantine I' ?      Edited by Topcat7
04/18/2015 06:03 am
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
629 Posts |
Itīs a Constantine I, the exergue is (or at least I thik so...) SMT Epsilon (Sacra Moneta Thesalonnica Officina Epsilon)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1045 Posts |
SMTE isn't a valid mint mark issued for this type
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
If it's Constantine I the obverse legend should most likely be CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG.
The bust does look like Constantine I.
Paul Bulgerin
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
629 Posts |
You are right, He must be Constantine II as caesar, so the obverse legend must be: "CONSTANTI-NVS IVN NOB C", and as Biancasdad remarks is imposible an exergue SMT Epsilon.
If Iīread properly, I Think that "S" and "M" are sure, Third letter can be a "N" and final letter is epsilon so the exergue must be SMN Epsilon (Sacra moneta Nicomedia officina Epsilon) or in english "Holy coin of Nicomedia".
But I must recognize that this is a guess...
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
629 Posts |
What book have you in mind exactly?
(SEAR, RIC, Salgado?)
Edited by Athalbert
04/18/2015 4:56 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
If what I think is right, you will need RIC VIII for this one.
I'm with Paul (On Wisconsin) on the obverse for Constantine I with a single standard GE reverse from Thessalonika. But I see the mintmark as a 5 character mark for which the 5th character is almost gone SMTSx (possibly a final B) If the reverse legend breaks as GLOR - IA EXER - CITVS, as I think it does, then your coin is RIC VIII #55 for Thessalonica, most likely officina secunda (B).
At least that's a possibility, and how it looks to me.
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
629 Posts |
We need to Harry Potter to help with this coin...
jejeje
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
You could be right A. This coin could be one of you-know-who's horcruxes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3098 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
The items in the link are earlier, two standard types and the obverse portrait does not have the characteristics of the Cn1 coins from Thessalonika. I have an example from officina A I can scan and post, but I can't get to it until tomorrow afternoon. I will try to post it tomorrow so you can see the similarities.
But I have given you a bum steer (misleading direction). The coin ref I gave for RIC VIII requires an obverse inscription of CONSTANTI - NVS P F AVG
For the inscription Paul gave, CONSTANTI - NVSMAXAVG the coin is listed in RIC VII 222 for Thessalonika and was only minted in officina A. That is what I will show you.
Edited by lrbguy
04/18/2015 11:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
The book to which I refer is: Late Roman Bronze Coinage - An attribution guide for poorly preserved coins by Guido Bruck translated by Alisdair Menzies. The diagrams are the same as on the Tesorillo site. The book goes into more detail regarding legend breaks etc. http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n10a05.html |
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
183 Posts |
I was going to guess similar to irbguy that it's thessalonika (just not as detailed  ) at the top end(non spear point end) of the spear being held by the soldier on the right there appears what could be a round spear butt end as depicted http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/030/030i.htmtes HH Edited by HawkHybrid
04/19/2015 09:03 am
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New Member
3 Posts |
Sorry for the delay. This was really frustrating. I am also lrbguy, but I forgot my original password for that account. I tried to use the change password option, and it said the password was changed, but then it wouldn't recognize it when entered. So I changed it again, Same. A third time. Same. Sent message to admin. No response by end of day. Meanwhile, you all had to wait for the pic and wonder what happened. Same thing this morning. Finally, in desperation, I created a new account. When the original gets fixed, I will let this one die. But for now, here is the pic I promised. A bit more contrasty than it should be, but at least you should be able to see what I was referring to. This coin is RIC VII 222.  The diadem on this obverse portrait is more pronounced than on the subject coin, but it is of the same type. Note the youthful appearance of the face, which might suggest Cn2 were it not for the inscription. On my coin the reverse inscription break is GLORI - AEXER - CITVS. Bruck is a very useful guide and I'm glad pishpash mentioned it, but he does not recognize this type for this reverse break for Constantine I. With the MAX AVG obverse it can be no other. Note the mintmark letter distribution relative to the positions of the soldiers and standard. One thing that bothers me about drawing a parallel here is the shape of the standard itself. These things varied and the target coin is very worn, but Bruck is keen on associating forms and mints. Then again, he does not have an entry specifically for Thessalonika, so I don't know what to say. All I can do is present what I have. Edited by lrbguy2
04/20/2015 1:10 pm
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Replies: 18 / Views: 3,149 |
Posted 04/18/2015 08:54 am
