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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,499 |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
847 Posts |
Hello All, I found this coin in my collection. Which after some searching looks like an URBS ROMA type. Tessalonica mint. From constantius I. I was wondering if this is correct?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
Yes! This is a commemorative coin of the city of Rome, with the back depicting the myth of Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome. Although it is worth noting that the legend actually reads "VRBS ROMA" seeing as there is no U in the roman alphabet. Here's my example for comparison.   |
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Pillar of the Community
 Netherlands
847 Posts |
Thanks! Yours has an nice sharp obverse with buste!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
It's not a great photo but the bust is in relatively good shape, I'm not overly fond of the reverse though, you can't make out a lot of detail in the wolf, but can make out some in the twins. These are relatively common though so I may very well end up upgrading it at some point. I find the roman city commemoratives to be pretty interesting coins!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Nice coin! I have several of this type in my collection--they are always fun coins to have, and pretty cheap to boot.
I am pretty sure that you are correct in your attribution. There is also something on the wolf's shoulder (Letter O? Arrow within circle?) that can help you narrow it down further by type.
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
847 Posts |
You are right. I found this one looks the same:
Stadtprägung - Urbs Roma.
(D) Follis (2,56g). Thessalonica (Saloniki), 5. Offizin 330-333 n.Chr. Av.: VRBS - ROMA, Büste der Roma mit Helm und Drapierung n.l. Rv.: S M TS E (im Abschnitt), Lupa Romana mit den Zwillingen Romulus und Remus n.l., darüber zwei Sterne, auf der Schulter kleines Monogramm. -- Kleine Reinigungskratzer, winzige Druckstelle I'm Av. RIC 187, C 17.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Your coin is from the mint at Thessalonika, as you and others have pointed out; officina epsilon (which is officina 5) the only officina that produced the your type at Thessalonika. The Wolf and Twins motif was not used for the small bronzes from Thessalonika after 336, so your coin will not appear in RIC vol. VIII.
The module of this coin appears to be somewhat reduced, since the images seem to be tight in the flan. This is important, because RIC vol. VII classes coins of this type from Thessalonika in two groups based on size and weight. Coins weighing more than 2.0 grams are invariably from the first group, minted from 330-333 (RIC VII 187). Coins weighing less than 1.8 grams are most likely from the later group minted from 335-336 (RIC VII 229). You do not say what the size or weight of the coin are, but the congestion on this flan suggests to me that it will weigh in on the light side. I'm inclined therefore to call it RIC VII #229 from Thessalonika.
Following the lead of Patrick Bruun in RIC VII, for these we do not usually specify which emperor (apart from Constantine) was the principle authority behind it, however the attribution to Constantius I is not correct, inasmuch as that was Constantine's father who was long departed by the time these city commemoratives were issued. You might want to attribute to whichever one of the tetrarchs had immediate authority over Thessalonika, but calling it a city commemorative is usually enough.
I hope that helps nail it down.
Edited by lrbguy
12/10/2015 5:30 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Sweet coin, and a must for any ancients collection.
I can't really add anything after IRB's rather accurate observations. Except that it seems the value of these has increased considerably over the last few years, while once they were cheap and plentiful decent ones are not given away for peanuts anymore. (I got one recently and it took quite some searching before I found one modestly priced)
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
David UK's experience is much the same as mine.
I haven't seen a good 'VRBS ROMA' in the wild for a few years, despite the fact that as a group, they are quite common.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Might as well share my set as well for comparison:   I bought the one at the top left for $6 when I was just getting started on ancients. The rest came from various lots on ebay. Interesting to note that the VRBS ROMA also comes with the GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers with standard, reverse. And of course, now that you have an VRBS ROMA, you need to get a Constantinopolis commemorative to keep it company  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
567 Posts |
I agree with Finn, the Roma commemorative and Constantinopolis commemorative really do compliment each other quite nicely, and I've found that those are pretty easy to find in good shape.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,499 |
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Posted 12/10/2015 12:42 pm
