Constantine I CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE from Carthage

[Victor]

I just got this awesome addition to my Carthage collection. It has several reasons why it is special.

1. It's Constantine as Caesar. Maxentius was trying to ally with Constantine by issuing coins for him; though he was merely awarded the title of Caesar. Maxentius also gave Constantine the last workshop, reserved for most junior. This is also the issue that Maxentius changed his title to Augustus. So this issue was actually a bit insulting to Constantine, meant to remind him he was most junior.

2. this series is tough to find...RIC says it is "rare to very rare"

3. The reverse legend for this type changes from FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN to CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE

4. The fields have H ER which must stand for Hercules. The three rulers represented in this series were Maximianus, Maxentius and Constantine; who were all in the family of Hercules. None of these coins were struck for Maximinus.

 

Constantine I
A.D. 306-307
27mm     9.4g
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right.
CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing, head left, in long drapery with elephant- skin head-dress, right holding standard, left tusk, at feet to left lion with captured bull; H-ER across fields.
In ex. Δ
RIC VI Carthage 55

[Heliodromus]

Nice rare coin - congrats!

I was thinking of bidding live, but knew I didn't really have a chance, so threw in a "just in case" bid and went to the beach instead!

It's an interesting moment in history - Maxentius hasn't quite called himself augustus yet (that'll be on next SE-F issue), but seems confused and is styling himself as "PRINC INVICT".

Maxentus had included Daia on the preceding SALVIS type/issue, with him being the only Iovian/eastern emperor included, getting an "I" field mark, but was apparently rebuffed in his approach to Daia for an alliance, so drops him in this issue, and seems to be saying "screw the Iovians", perhaps, by changing the preceding "H" to "H-ER" for the new all-Herculean line-up!

Are you planning to remove the green encrustation, or leave as is ?

[Victor]

I am not sure what I will do with the green...I will wait until I get it; but I am already thinking it would look nice without it.


I just got an email about the auction. I always hate it when a coin I won is featured as part of the best results...it means the coin was expensive; but I am glad to get it.

 

[Victor]

after a little TLC--

 

[Heliodromus]

Looks good - tastefully done!

What did you use to remove the greenies ?

[Victor]

I soaked it in alconox for a little to loosen things up and then brushed it with a very stiff bristle polymer gun cleaning brush and then a little brushing with a horsehair silver brush. It cleaned up nicely because it had good bones though.

[Doug Hill]

Great job Victor!

[Victor]

Thanks...but I was fortunate enough to have a good coin to work with.