Numismata Munich finds

[Nikko]

Here are all my finds in today coins fair in Munich.
Some common but nice coins (at reasonable prices) and a couple of very rare ones.
Thanks
Nicola 

[Victor]

Congrats, that;s a nice lot. I especially like the top middle coin.

[Nikko]

Thanks Victor.

The too middle is the most interesting one.
With the shorter IMP CONSTANTINVS P AVG, it’s RIC VI 792 and it’s reported as R5!!!!

[Lech Stępniewski]

Hi Nicola,

R5 for bronze coin is in RIC VI something very unusual. Sutherland generally gave R3 at most, even when he knew (from the literature!) of only one specimen.

The coin in the middle seems to be ROME 214 (bowl-shaped helmet with long crest = D7) with officina P (= unlisted). Am I right?

Generally very nice coins. I especially like this Constantine form Heraclea (HERACLEA 72). So congratulations!

[Nikko]

I agree, R5 is very unusual and surprised me a lot. It may be regarded to an “uncertain” coin to be confirmed.
Sutherland’s rarity index is more reliable than Bruun’s ones.

About the coin in the middle, officina letter is Q, but according to Lars Ramskold (who saw the coin yesterday evening) it may also be a D2 bust (helmet with visor). He will looking for an obverse die match in his database. I will keep you updated.

[Heliodromus]

About the coin in the middle, officina letter is Q, but according to Lars Ramskold (who saw the coin yesterday evening) it may also be a D2 bust (helmet with visor). He will looking for an obverse die match in his database. I will keep you updated.

Hi Nikko,

I'm pretty sure that's a D7 bust (RIC 214). There seems to be a star decoration on it, characteristic of D6 & D7 busts, and it has the tall feather crest. D2 helmets have a swirly design on them.

[Lech Stępniewski]

About the coin in the middle, officina letter is Q

Well, still quite rare and interesting. I agree with Ben that D2 is much less probable. However, there is no absolutely clear difference between D2 and D7 and we have to analyze such details as the visor or the helmet decoration, often also ambiguous.

[Heliodromus]

It can be hard to differentiate a D2 "visor" (fixed browband) from the riveted edge of a D6/D7 ridge helmet on a worn coin like this, but ignoring that there are three things pointing to D7 rather than the Attic/Praetorian D2 helmet.

1) It seems to have the star decoration(s) characteristic to the ridge helmets.

2) It has the tall feather crest vs the normal horsehair crest of the D2 helmet, although at the beginning of this Rome P-R/vota series there are rare D2 helmets for Licinius with a feather crest.

3) In terms of type/helmet sequencing in this series, this 5-line vota type is early, but the D2 - for Constantine - is late. Early D2 is basically for Licinius, although there's an exceptional Pax Perpetva for Constantine with D2 helmet that could be interpreted multiple ways.

[Nikko]

Thanks guys.
I’m incline to id this coin as RIC 214, officina Q. I agree with all your precise notes.

Lech listed several of this type with the D2 bust, but the “archaic” version with protruding visor.

[Heliodromus]

Nikko, your coin seems to be an obv die match to this one from Warren Esty (on his website).

btw, the one above with the archaic (pseudo-Corinthian) helmet is mine.

[Nikko]

Thanks Ben! You definitely solve the mistery.

It looks an obverse and reverse die match.

…and congratulations for the coin above.