Tiny little Constans

[marandnumiz]

Picked this coin recently at a local auction site. RIC 73, Rome. It even deserves a separate entry in Failmezger's book, No. 399, RR.
Primary attribution: RIC VIII 73 Rome var R
Date: 347 AD
Obverse: CONSTANS PF AVG, Rosette-diademed draped cuirassed bust right
Reverse: VICTORIAE DD AVGG Q NN, Two Victories facing with heads turned toward one another, each holding a wreath, RQ in ex. (probably) No Legend Break

[Victor]

congrats...these are tough to find.

for the members that might not notice the significance, it is the victory and wreath positions. Normally, the victories face each other, with wreaths almost touching in the center, while this one has both victories going to the left with the wreaths held to the left.

[marandnumiz]

Actually, both RIC and Failmezger are not precise in describing the difference of this type / variety compared with the standard design.

Failmezger says that both victories face left. However, I think it is clear in all examples I have seen that victories face each other. But unlike in the standard design, both victories are going to the left and one that we see to our left turns her head (and awkwardly her left leg) to face the one that we see to our right. Furthermore, unlike in the standard design, both victories hold the wreath in their right hand.

[Victor]

here's another example...not as in good condition as the example posted by marandnumiz

[Victor]

here's another reference for this type

Otto Voetter Constantinvs Junior als Augustus 1909


I think that the example posted by marandnumiz has a mintmark of R crescent (?)

[Victor]

another example
15mm, 1.24g

[Victor]

here's another example of the victories holding the wreaths to left. For the R dot P series, RIC only lists the short obverse legend for Constans (CONSTANS P F AVG) while this example has the longer legend (DN FL CONSTANS AVG). It should come after RIC VIII Rome 81.

[marandnumiz]

Or perhaps, RIC has mistakenly recorded the wrong legend CONSTANS PF AVG for the obverse. Only now I see that all examples here have this ''unrecorded'' longer obverse legend - a logical oversight since we have focused on reverse. I have another coin from the second officina, also with the long legend. Coin in Failmezger's book also appears to have the same legend.

[Victor]

Only now I see that all examples here have this ''unrecorded'' longer obverse legend - a logical oversight since we have focused on reverse.

the long legend is unrecorded for R dot P, but not the series as a whole. RP (the 1st issue 1st series) only lists the long legend. R crescent P (second issue 1st series) also only lists the long legend. RP (third issue- second series) lists both legends. From  R dot P (4th issue) until the last issue, only the short legend is listed. They probably noticed the obverse is crowded with the long legend and you save two spaces with the short legend.

So the series started out with only the long legend and seemed to start phasing it out by the 4th issue, though, perhaps there are longer legends for all the other issues out there also, but it seems unlikely by the pattern.

It makes sense that the reverse error with the victories have the longer legend, since that legend was the only one used at first. By the time the short legend was exclusively used, the reverse engraving error should have been noticed and fixed. The R dot P series was probably the last time the error was struck. It would be interesting to see an example of this error with the short obverse legend...if any exist.


below is an example of RIC 81 which has the short obverse legend.

[Victor]

Below is the Failmezger example; which was already mentioned.  15mm   1.6gm

[Victor]

Here is another example that I recently won on eBay. It's overdue though, I hope it was not lost in transit.

16mm  1.4gm

[Victor]

here's another one   13mm 1.36 g

[Joshmaggosh]

Yeah I saw that one too. It's rough... but I've been looking for one for quite some time. I ended up winning it for $5.50. Still looking for a nice one at a good price but this one will do!

[Victor]

Yes, a little rough; but for the price,it was a good deal.

[Victor]

another example