SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI Eagle with spread wings

[Victor]

The first coin below has an eagle with spread wings on the standard, while the second coin has the normal eagle type. I have seen a few examples of eagles with spread wings over the years, but they are fairly rare and not even mentioned in RIC, but perhaps none were noticed, or the distinction was not deemed important. In RIC, the eagle is described as facing either left or right, with left being normal. The eagle with spread wings, however, is perhaps only something a specialist would be interested in, but it is a nice variation in an otherwise fairly uneventful reverse type.

This type commemorates Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the battle of Milvian bridge; and was struck only by the mints he had just gained control over - Rome and Ostia (then Arles after Ostia shut down and transferred there).

Constantine I
A.D. 312-313
IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI; Legionary eagle (usually to the left) between two vexilla, that on left surmounted by a right hand, that on right by a wreath; flag on the eagle.
in ex R P
RIC VI Rome 349

[Nikko]

Intruding and very rare minor variant.

Constantine looks also to have "eys to Heaven".

[Victor]

I just got another example-

[Nikko]

It's no longer very rare 

[Victor]

It's no longer very rare 

It's like a lot of LRB varieties, when you look specifically for them, they seem to turn up.

I also got another example last month, but it was a cast fake- pictured below.

[Victor]

I just got another example...these are becoming common!

[Victor]

Here's a rough example from Licinius.

[Victor]

two more examples