votive from Thessalonica

[Victor]

According to RIC, this coin is from Thessalonica, but the bust style looks more like what I would expect to see from a western mint...something more like Arles or Rome.

[Nikko]

The portrait and the obverse legend IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG are compatible with the VOTIS XX emisisons from Arles (RIC VII Arles 208 RIC VII Arles 213 RIC VII Arles 216)

[Victor]

Yes, it looks very much like an Arles issue, except it should have a PA in exergue. There is a P dot A issue, but there is not any evidence of this coin having a P or A in the exergue and rest of the reverse is sharp, so I doubt it could be explained by a weak strike or clogged die. Perhaps it is an unlisted mintmark. I would like to see Thessalonica 84 to compare it with.

[Nikko]

The lettering is quite different too.

I'm pretty sure it isn't a coin struck at Thessa.

[Victor]

Yes, it doesn't look like Thessalonica at all, that is what I am trying to clarify- is there really a Thessalonica 84 or is it a misdescribed Arles coin, or is this an unlisted issue, or is this a case like the MARTI CONSERVATORI coins with Constantine and reverse bust of Mars which RIC lists as only being issued from Trier, but are actually issued from several mints and can only be differentiated by style.

[Nikko]

I assume that Thessa 84 doesn't really exist and Bruun wrongly list this issue. Probably he attributed the coin to Thessalonica on the basis of similarity with Thessa 88.

I have never seen a specimen of Thessa 84.

[Nikko]

can we reasonable sure it is a genuine coin?

[Victor]

The coin looks fine with convincing deposits. It was sold in a group of other bronzes.