... a strange mint

[Fabius Severus]

Hi Victor,
what do you think about the strange exergus of this VIRTVS coin?
I never seen a similiar, before of this... 

Regards
Fabius

[Victor]

Your coin is an unofficial example. These are commonly called "barbs." Besides the mintmark, the engraver made Constantine's nose too large...it is a neat example! Below are two more unofficial issues of this type for Licinius II and Constantine II.


I have a page about these 4th century barbs.

http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/barb2/

[Fabius Severus]

OK, it's a barbaric (local) early oriental copy...
It's on sale in a Jerusalem's coin shop.

And there is this second example, a S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI with a variant: the legionary eagle is opening the wings!

Regards
Fabius

[Victor]

And there is this second example, a S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI with a variant: the legionary eagle is opening the wings!

I have seen a few of these, they are interesting; but not worth much more than the regular type, except for a specialist perhaps...and of course the seller thinks it's worth much more!