| Author |
 Replies: 15 / Views: 3,979 |
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
55 Posts |
Hello, I need some help identifying this coin. It's about 17mm in diameter. I think it might be Constantine I, but can't be sure. Any insight to it would be much appreciated.   |
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Looks like the emperor Valens.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I have no idea how echizento came up with Valens. Cudos to you for making it out. I have seen that reverse on several coins of the later Empire: FELTEMPREPARATIO Exe: SMN - Soldier advancing right, dragging captive from hut under tree and holding spear In some cases the figure represents the Emperor such as in Valentine issued coins  |
|
Valued Member
 Canada
55 Posts |
Thanks for the IDs. However, I wonder if this is Valentinian instead of Valens? It doesn't show up well in the picture -- and I'll try to get a clear photograph up if I can, but the partial inscription on the right side of the obverse reads "ANVSPFAV. On the reverse, the partial inscription on the left reads "RIARO" and the right says "MANORUM." So my guess is that the reverse inscription is GLORIA ROMANUM. Sorry I didn't put the inscriptions up until now, but I couldn't make them out until I got into an appropriate light. Any thoughts on if this is Valentinian or Valens, or on the reverse inscription?   Edited by Jayson
09/14/2011 10:07 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Hello Jayson,
On the legend on the bust can you see if it starts 'DNV...' or 'DNG...'?
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
55 Posts |
It looks like a DNVA. I can't tell for sure as I only have the bottom half of those letters to work with and what I do have is very very faint.
I figure it couldn't be Valens, because wouldn't the inscription read DN VALENS PF AVG? Whereas Valentinian would be DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG. And I can clearly see the ANVS on the right side.
Edited by Jayson
09/14/2011 10:04 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I see where you are going Bobbyhelmet and you could be right. It all depends on the first three letters on the obverse. But if it is DNV then it could be Valens or Valentine I or II (though unlikely). Still a puzzle.
JW
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
If it DNVA then we have a problem. It could be Valentine I RIC 3a, 5a, 14a, etc, etc. Should it prove to be Valens then RIC 3b, 5b, 7b, etc, etc. Here is one of mine: Valens RIC 5b, OBV: Obv: DNVALENSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; REV: GLORIAROMANORVM Exe: over A/DSISC - Valens dragging captive right, holding labarum  JW |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Heres something you should never say to a stranger!
I too can clearly see Jaysons 'ANVS'!
Which means we have to disregard Valens and stick with Valentine I/II.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
If you can "see Jaysons 'ANVS' then you have better eyes then me or your too close to Jayson  . I would concentrate ON Val I rather than Val II. I can't see the differences to be able to attribute this beyond what has already been done. Try one of the Valentine I RIC numbers from above. Maybe you'll get lucky. JW |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
You seem pretty good on computers Jayson. The below link is to an excel spreadsheet with many of the know Gloria Romanum types on it. You can filter and sort the data to try and cut down the posibilites. As JW has said its very likely a VI but you never know. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/da...omanorum.xlsThis spreadsheet on its original page is here if your worried about clicking on an unknown download. http://www.romancoin.info/Edited as I forgot to add - remember to click the 'Emperor Dragging' worksheet tab as this suits your coin. Edited by bobbyhelmet
09/14/2011 10:28 pm
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
55 Posts |
Thanks everyone for all the input. I didn't even know there was such a thing as RIC numbers before all this. Upon closer inspection, looking for a mint mark, I noticed a faint marking on the right side of the staff:  Sort of looks like a figure 8, a sideways V and another figure 8. I've seen the middle part of it clearly on a RIC 3a, which makes me think it might be that, though it doesn't match exactly. It does most resemble the 3a over others, if anything because of the obverse portrait. I don't know if this is a mint mark or anything of the sort. Certainly I wouldn't have found it if I weren't looking for it. I'm also inclined to say that this is a V1 if anything because it doesn't look like any V2 portrait I've seen. It may be a bit amateurish of me, but the V2 generally have larger lettering and a smaller portrait, though that isn't any sort of educated opinion. Anyone know anything about this possible mint mark? As a side note, having looked at this close up for so long, my eyes have got pretty sore. Edited by Jayson
09/14/2011 11:36 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Any time you have a part legend coin that could be either Valentinian I or Valens, the tip off is usually the size of the letters and number of bumps. Valentinian had to use smaller letters and Valens usually just had the S on the right side. At this time (and much of the later empire) it was considered a higher honor (why?) if the ruler's legend was broken in the middle rather than appearing as one continuous arc. To allow this break and still spell out the long name, Valentinian tends to have smaller letters. Valentinian I was never a junior grade Augustus so a coin reading VALENTINIANVS all in one piece will be Valentinian II (and quite likely have a young looking portrait. By the time Val II was promoted to split legend status, the reverse legends used had changed so you won't mix him up with his father.
In the case of the OP coin, unfortunately or not, the ANV on the right rules out Valens anyway but there are a lot of these that are off center to the top making the call between the two a guess based on the letter size.
When IDing late Roman coins you should always read the reverse first and see which rulers used the type. That in itself will often rule out someone that might be confusing.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
having looked at this close up for so long, my eyes have got pretty sore Haha - I know the feeling well. What you have to the right of the staff (if its not a trick of the light) is a 'right field mark'. I think you do see something though because if you look at the 'right field' column in the spreadsheet you will see lots of combinations. Many of them are 'X over Y' etc, this fits with the positions you have seen the characters in. The mintmark on your coin will be below the reverse figures feet and is prob sadly missing. Its still possible that the coin can be 100% IDed using the right field mark though. Its now a matter of seeing what known coin field marks match your coin. |
|
Valued Member
Canada
55 Posts |
Looking through the spreadsheet you provided, it could possibly be an O over M, if the M was turned sideways, but there's no accounting for the lower figure in the right field, which could very well be an S. With this degree of damage to the coin, I'm pretty content in knowing it's a Valentinian I (most likely if not almost certainly). With mint mark missing I think being 100% certain of this coin won't be possible, unless I come across one exactly like it, that is.
Edited by Jayson
09/15/2011 12:58 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
I'm pretty content in knowing it's a Valentinian I Id agree with that - Its amazing sometimes how far you can go with a coin that initially showed so little info. |
| |
Replies: 15 / Views: 3,979 |
|
Posted 09/14/2011 7:38 pm
