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Rome, 4.1.2024
Dear,
I report below the significant elements regarding the
figure coin:
Æ31,
(15.3.351-6.11.355) A. D.2, mint of
Nicomedia, RIC VIII 97 (pag. 479),
rarity index "C"
Summary description (parts of the
legend that are worn or otherwise no longer legible
are indicated in red):
D. DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS
NOB CAES3. Bust of
Constantius Gallus, bareheaded, draped, cuirassed,
right.
R. FEL TEMP REPARATIO4.
Soldier, helmeted, draped, cuirassed, advancing
left, spearing fallen horseman with right hand and
wearing shield on left arm; shield on ground to
right; horseman wearing cap, facing soldier,
extending right arm. SMN∈5 in exergue.
A search on the web for coins of the figure
typology yielded the following results:
- https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.nic.97
RIC VIII Nicomedia 97 Descrizione del tipo Arco
cronologico: AD 351 - AD 355 Tecnica di
produzione: Coniato Nominale: AE3 Materiale:
Biglione (uncertain) Materiale: Bronzo (uncertain)
Autorità emittente: Costanzo II Geografico Zecca:
Nicomedia Regione: Bitinia Dritto Legenda: D N FL
CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES Tipo: Bust of Constantius
Gallus, bareheaded, draped, cuirassed, right.
Ritratto: Costanzo Gallo. Rovescio Legenda: FEL
TEMP RE-PARATIO Tipo: Soldier, helmeted, draped,
cuirassed, advancing left, spearing fallen
horseman with right hand and wearing shield on
left arm; shield on ground to right; horseman
wearing cap, facing soldier, extending right arm.
MintMark: -/-//SMN∈. Bronze AE3 of Constantius II,
Nicomedia, AD 351 - AD 355. 1944.100.21499.
Collezione American Numismatic Society. Asse 6.
Diametro (in mm) 15.5 Peso (in g) 2.76.
- https://www.biddr.com/auctions/numismad/browse?a=3792&l=4395045
Auction information Lot 1536 Bidding Price
realized 13€ 4 bids. Starting price 10€.
Constantius Gallus (333-337) AE Nicomedia
Description: Constantius Gallus (333-337) AE
(Bronze, 2.59g, 17mm) Nicomedia. Obv: D N FL CL
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Bust of Constantius Gallus,
bareheaded, draped, cuirassed, right. Ref: FEL
TEMP RE-PARATIO / SMNS, Soldier, helmeted, draped,
cuirassed, advancing left, spearing fallen
horseman with right hand and wearing shield on
left arm; shield on ground to right; horseman
wearing cap, facing soldier, extending right arm.
Ref: RIC VIII Nicomedia 97.
- https://nomosag.com/obolos-20/1309
Lot 1309 Price: 50 CHF Lot 1309 Constantius
Gallus, Caesar, 351-354. Follis (Bronze, 17mm,
2.18g, 12h), struck under Constantius II,
Nicomedia, Δ = 4th officina, 351-354. D N FL CL
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES Bare-headed, draped and
cuirassed bust of Constantius Gallus to right.
Rev. FEL TEMP REPARATIO / SMNΔ Soldier standing
left, holding shield on left arm and spearing
fallen enemy, who is beardless looking back at
soldier and extends arm. LRBC 2310. RIC 97.
shallow pit on back of head, minor surface
roughness, otherwise, good very fine. Current
Status Online bidding closes: 4 Oct 2021, 01:54:30
CEST. Current Date & Time: 4 Jan 2024,
09:29:05 CET. Remaining Time: Closed. Hammer
Price: 50 CHF by banderas (1 bid).
- https://www.ma-shops.com/hollandia/item.php?id=1593&lang=it
Roman Empire AE3 351-354 AD Constantius Gallus
(351-354), Nicomedia, RIC 97, aVF SellerHollandia
Numismatics Netherlands 4 804 ratings, 100 %
Positive (last 24 months) Price 23,00 EUR.
Quantity 1 Grade: aVF | Abbreviations copper |
weight 2,61g | Ø 16mm | die-axe 3 o’clock. Obv.
[D] N FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, draped and
cuirassed bust right. Rev. FEL TEMP RE – PARATIO,
soldier standing left, holding shield, spearing a
fallen horseman, mintmark SMNΓ in exergue. RIC
VIII 97. about Very Fine.
- https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=136581
175 - Constantius Gallus - AE3/4 - RIC VIII
Nicomedia 97. Obv:– DN FL CL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES,
Bare, bust draped and cuirassed right. Rev:– FEL
TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier spearing fallen horseman,
who is bare headed, reaching back towards the
emperor (Rider with hair straight up, no beard,
reaching (hair type not in RIC). Minted in
Nicomedia (//SMN Delta), Reference:– RIC VIII
Nicomedia 97 var (hairstyle/headwear). Ex Lanz. Ex
Kunker 288, ex. Collection Dr. Rainer Pudill
3,13g. 16.55mm.
- https://www.sixbid.com/en/chs-basel-numismatics/11220/ancient-roman/9769066/constantius-gallus-351-354-ad-ae
ONLINE AUCTION 9 LOT 795m 31 Oct 2023 End pre
bids: 10/31/2023, 10:00 AM CET. Starting price: 10
EUR. Estimate: 60 EUR. Result: not sold. Lot 795.
CONSTANTIUS GALLUS (351-354 AD). AE Follis, as
caesar, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Nicomedia mint, XF!
RIC 97. Size: 17mm. Weight: 2.3g.
- https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces353528.html
Obverse Bust of Constantius Gallus, bareheaded,
draped, cuirassed, right. Lettering: D N FL CL
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES. Reverse Soldier, helmeted,
draped, cuirassed, advancing left, spearing fallen
horseman with right hand and wearing shield on
left arm; shield on ground to right; horseman
wearing cap, facing soldier, extending right arm.
Mintmark and officina in exergue. Lettering: FEL
TEMP RE-PARATIO. Mint SMN Nicomedia, Bithynia,
modern-day İzmit, Turkey. Roman Empire (Rome)
Constantius II (337-361) Standard circulation coin
351-355. Nummus (1⁄7200). Currency Solidus, Reform
of Constantine (AD 310/324 – 395). Bronze 2.34g.
16.87mm. Round (irregular).
- https://ikmk.uni-freiburg.de/object?lang=en&id=ID8603&view=rs
Constantius Gallus 351-354 n. Chr. Freiburg,
Seminar für Alte Geschichte der Universität
Nomisma NDP Tresor Inventar nummer 09554
Vorderseite D N FL CL [CON]STANTIVS NOB CAES.
Drapierte Panzerbüste des Constantius Gallus in
der Brustansicht nach r. Rückseite FEL TEMP
RE-PARA[TIO] // SMNA. Soldat mit Helm sticht nach
l. mit einem Speer in der r. Hand auf einen
fallenden Reiter ein. Er hält einen Schild im l.
Arm. Darunter ein Schild. Der Reiter fällt nach
l., den Kopf nach r. gewandt. Er hebt den r.Arm.
Dargestellte/r Constantius Gallus Münzherr
Constantius II. Datierung 351-354 n. Chr. Römische
Spätantike Nominal Nummusteil stück Bronze Nomisma
NDP; 2,07g; 16mm; 6h. Herstellung geprägt nomisma
NDP. Literatur RIC VIII Nr. 97 (Nicomedia, 15.
März 351-Winter 354 n. Chr.); LRBC Nr. 2310
(Nicomedia, 351-354 n. Chr.). Webportale
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.nic.97
- https://numid.ku.de/object?lang=en&id=ID310&view=rs
Constantius Gallus 351-354 n. Chr. Eichstätt,
Lehrstuhl für Alte Geschichte der Katholischen
Universität Nomisma NDP Tresor Inventory no 310
Obverse D N FL CL CON[STAN-TIVS] NOB CAES. Büste
des Constantinus Gallus barhäuptig mit Mantel und
Rüstung n.r. Reverse FEL TEMP RE[PARATIO] // SMNS.
Behelmter Soldat n.l., Schild am l. Arm, r. Fuß
auf einem Schild, einen gestürzten bartlosen
Reiter mit Mütze aufspießend; Der Reiter den
Soldaten anblickend und ihm den Arm
entgegenstreckend. Sitter Constantius Gallus
Ancient Ruler's issue NDP Authority Constantius II
Date 351-354 n. Chr. Denomination Aes 3nomisma NDP
Bronze Nomisma NDP; 2,62g; 17mm; 11h. Production
struck nomisma NDP. Mint Nicomedia (Izmit) Nomisma
NDP. Region Bithynien Nomisma NDP. Country Turkey
NDP. Publications RIC VIII Nicomedia 97. Web
Portals
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.8.nic.97 Object
number ID310 Permalink
https://numid.ku.de/object?id=ID310.
I conclude by noting that general and style
characteristics of the coin do not differ from those
of period coins of the same type. Physical
characteristics are lacking, which is why a
comparative examination with authentic coins of the
period is not possible. In the present state of
conservation, if authentic, the coin is worth, in my
opinion, about €20.
Best regards.
Giulio De Florio
-------------------------------
Notes:
(1) Æ3 follis. I
collect in the table below the physical
characteristics of the coins of the figure type
from the
links above:
| References: |
Weight (g) |
Diameter (mm) |
Die axis (h) |
| Link1 |
2,76 |
15,5 |
- |
| Link2 |
2,59 |
17 |
- |
| Link3 |
2,18 |
17 |
12 |
| Link4 |
2,61 |
16 |
3 |
| Link5 |
3,13 |
16,55 |
- |
| Link6 |
2,3 |
17 |
- |
| Link7 |
2,34 |
16,87 |
- |
| Link8 |
2,07 |
16 |
6 |
| Link9 |
2,62 |
17 |
11 |
Since the physical characteristics of the sample
under examination are not available, it will not be
possible to conduct a comparative examination with
the authentic coins of the period.
(2) (15.3.351-6.11.355), time
span between the rise of Constantius Gallus as
Caesar and that of Julian.
(3) DN FL CL
CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES (Dominvs Noster
FLavius CLaudius CONSTANTIVS NOBilis Caesar). The
story of Constantius Gallus is interesting. His
grandfather, the emperor Constantius Chlorus, had
had six children by his legitimate wife Theodora,
among them Delmazius senior and Julius Constantius,
father of Constantius Gallus and several years
earlier had had a son named Constantine by Helena, a
woman of humble origins with whom he had lived in
concubinage before marriage (as was the custom in
those days when differences in social class did not
allow legal union). On the death of Constantius
Chlorus in 306, it was Constantine, then 24 years
old, who, by reason of age and experience
(Theodora's children were too young), took over his
father's inheritance. Theodora's family thus lived
in Constantine's shadow. Having become emperor,
Constantine divided the responsibilities of
government with his three sons: Constantine Caesar
had Spain, Gaul and Britain, Constans Italy, Illyria
and Africa and Constantius the Asian provinces and
Egypt, while Constantine kept the Balkan peninsula
for himself. Before his death in 337, Constantine
mentioned in his will the relatives of Theodora's
descendants, Delmatius jr and Hannibalianus,
sons of his half-brother Delmatius senior, and left
them the Balkan peninsula and the government of
Armenia and the Pontus coast respectively. This was
the cause of their misfortune: on hearing the news
of Constantine's death, his son Constantius rushed
to Constantinople where he organised the massacre of
Theodora's descendants. Two of Constantine's
half-brothers, Delmatius senior and Julius
Constantius, father of Constantius Gallus, and seven
nephews, including Delmatius jr. and Hannibalianus
were slaughtered. Saved from the massacre were
12-year-old Gallus and his half-brother Julian (the
future emperor Julian, later called the Apostate),
who was six years old at the time.The cruel and
suspicious Constantius spared their lives but
relegated them to two different cities in Asia
Minor. The boys were surrounded by Christian
teachers, who spied on their slightest movements,
under the guidance of Eusebius, the Arian bishop of
Nicomedia. At a time of turmoil in the western
empire, Constantius, feeling the need to have a
symbolic figure in the East to represent the
imperial family, summoned Gallus, who was the eldest
of the surviving cousins, to court, gave him his
sister Constantine as his bride and made him Caesar
at Sirmium, on 15 March 351. Gallus and the new
praetorian prefect of the East, Thalassius, with no
time in between, left for the East, and settled in
Antioch in mid-May, at a time when the
meteorological or astronomical phenomenon of the
heavenly cross was rumoured, or at least believed to
be so. As the situation on the Persian border
remained fairly calm, Gallus had a relatively easy
time of it. The agitations of the Isaurians and
Jews, especially the latter, were repressed with
great brutality. What is certain is that his rule
was characterised by great irresponsibility and
violence, culminating in the instigation of the
lynching of the prefect Domitian and the quaestor
Montius. After this event Gallus was recalled,
officially to be transferred to Gaul, but in reality
to be deprived of his prerogatives and tried in
Flanona, an island off the east coast of Istria,
where he was beheaded towards the end of 354.
(4) FEL TEMP REPARATIO
(FELix or FELIcium TEMPorum REPARATIO). On the FEL
TEMP REPARATIO (FTR for short) Dough Smith (see https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/ftr.html)
has written an interesting article from which I will
draw for the brief summary that follows. The
monetary reform of 348 by Constans and Constantius
II brought three silvered bronze nominals into
circulation of the following types, all bearing the
reverse legend FTR:
| Nominals |
Types |
| major (biglion - 3% silver)
- large Æ3 |
fallen horseman (favourite
reverse theme of Constantius II) |
| Galea piloted by Victory
(Constans favourite reverse theme
because it probably recalled Constans'
landing in Britain in 342) |
intermediate - small Æ2 -
busts to left
|
Barbarian brought out of
the hut (Constans favourite reverse
theme perhaps because it enhanced the
theme of recolonisation of conquered
territories) |
| Sovereign with two
prisoners' (preferred reverse theme of
Constantius II) |
| minor Æ3 |
Phoenix |
With Constans death, the 'fallen horseman' remained
the only type of FTR in circulation. During its 13
years of life, the 'fallen horseman' underwent many
changes in weight and size. The earliest coins were
what collectors refer to as Æ2 coins, as
they measured 21÷23mm in diameter; the latest issues
went down to 16mm, not even qualifying as Æ3. These
later coins are often called Æ3/Æ4 to indicate
that they lie in the borderline band between Æ3 and
Æ4. The weight also gradually decreased as did the
already low silver content.
The 'fallen horseman'
was roughly coined in four variants. All had in
common the presence of a knight mortally wounded by
a lance The first shows the knight kneeling on the
ground in front of the horse. The second shows him
sitting on the ground in front of the horse.The
third, which
is the one relevant to the figure coin,
Horseman on horse turning and reaching back toward
the soldier. The last, sees him crashing to the
ground hugging the horse's neck.
As Dough Smith rightly observes, the 'fallen
horseman' is a typical collector's coin because it
meets three criteria:
- Affordability, as no 'fallen horseman' coin
would be terribly expensive; ranging from the
worst specimens at less than a dollar to the
truly perfect ones costing $100.
- Varieties, as within each of the four types
illustrated above, numerous variations can be
observed to satisfy the fussiness of the
specialised collector.
- Expandability, because starting with the
'fallen horseman' one can expand to all the
themes of the FEL TEMP REPARATIO and then to all
the Constantinian era coins.
(5) SMN∈ is the mint mark,
composed of the letters SM
(Sacra Moneta), the letter N
(mint indicative, short for Nicomedia in Asia Minor,
see link)
and the workshop indicative ∈
(fifth of six workshops active in the mint at the
time).
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