Author Topic: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction  (Read 429 times)

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Offline Victor

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What say ye board members on this offering from the latest Naumann

CONSTANTINE I 'THE GREAT' (307/10-337). Follis. Constantinople.

Obv: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG.
Laureate head right.
Rev: SPES PVBLICA / CONS.
Labarum surmounted by Christogram, spearing serpent.

RIC 19.

Very rare

Condition: Very fine; cleaning marks.

Weight: 2.55 g.
Diameter: 19 mm.


it looks like a great candidate for Athena to "repatinate"  >:(



Offline six2ten

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2021, 06:15:49 AM »
FWIW I think it is genuine. The surfaces seem consistent to me to a heavily corroded coin with some type of chemical cleaning and style looks to match those in Lars’ corpus of genuine coins (I didn’t match it to any dies but only had a quickish check).

Hard to know if it was a bargain or not at that price, you’d want to see it in hand I think

Allan

Offline Heliodromus

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2021, 10:02:37 AM »
I'm also wondering when this shows up with the Cheeto-dust.

It's seems a halfway decent coin though. I'm sure it's genuine, and all devices are fully present and clear. The price seems about as expected given what these have sold for in recent years.

I'd like to have one, but rather doubt I ever will (despite having paid more for a few coins in my collection). At the end of the day these aren't that rare - I've got photos of about 35 specimens, and I forget how many Lars was able to track down. It seems it was struck alongside the laureate Gloria Romanorvm (RIC 17) in officina "A", and probably of same rarity/not when originally struck. I'm not convinced it's a whole lot rarer even today, notwithstanding that there may have been an attempt to remove it from circulation back in the day.

It's one of those iconic coins whose price is really completely out of whack compared to rarity.

Offline Victor

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2021, 10:13:02 AM »

I bought this one, so it is safe from the cheeto dust  :D

I have always thought the prices were too high for a coin that is merely scarce; but I thought this example was cheap enough (or at least as cheap as it could be) in a decent enough grade.

Offline Heliodromus

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2021, 12:47:02 PM »
Congratulations!

Given your URL, I guess you had to have one!  :)

I agree on price/grade.

Offline Victor

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2021, 01:01:48 PM »
Yes, I eventually had to get one. It is a fascinating reverse type, but attracts too many non-specialists, that merely want this type because of the Christian symbolism-- I refer to the higher price of this coin, and any with similar connections, as having a "faith" tax (maybe a temple tax)...and I don't like extra taxes!  ;D

I also don't like high profile auctions where everyone sees the coins and they are clearly identified...all it takes to win is a willingness to spend the most money. I won this SPES coin yesterday, but got more excited about an unlisted Maximianus CONSERVATOR that I also got yesterday for under $20 on eBay; which I posted about here--

https://www.lateromanbronzecoinforum.com/index.php/topic,2104.msg6010/topicseen.html#msg6010

Offline Per D

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2021, 05:49:23 PM »
Congratulations!



Offline Victor

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Re: Constantine SPES PVBLIC from Constantinope in last Naumann auction
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2021, 06:17:33 PM »

Thanks, I am looking forward to getting it, though I know it will be a few weeks.