Indice Dietro Avanti
Æ follis, Constantius II and the twenty/thirty year votes
30/3/2023
..da Ancient & Medieval Coins
Thank you for the add
I have this coin my husband acquired and gifted me about 15yrs ago. We’ve both forgotten any of the details of its history and can’t seem to figure out who’s on it and when it’s from. Any ideas?
fig. 1
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Rome, 30.3.2023
Dear Mrs. Victoria Emry,
the main elements concerning the figure coin are the following:

Æ follis1, unknown mint, 347÷348 A. D.

Summary description (worn or no longer legible parts of the legend are indicated in red):
Obv. DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG2. Costantius II, bust facing right.
Rev. VOT/XX/MVLT/XXX3, legend in four lines in laurel wreath. Mint sign illegible.

Six different mints struck in 347-348 A.D. Æ follis of the type of figure: Alexandria (SMAL), Constantinopolis (CONS), Nicomedia (SMNA), Kizicos (SMKA), Heraclea (SMHA), Antioch SMAN/T).

Since the mint sign in exergue is illegible, the coin is not exactly classifiable according to Ric. Therefore, by way of example, below I report the link to a coin of the type of figure minted by the Antioch mint:
  1. cngcoins eAuction Keystone Auction 6 – Session Three – The Ken Bressett Collection, Part II – Roman Coinage Lot nuber 3365. Constantius II. AD 337-361. Æ Follis (15mm, 1.50g, 12h). Keystone Auction 6 – Session Three – The Ken Bressett Collection, Part II – Roman Coinage. Lot: 3365. Estimated: $75. Roman Imperial, Bronze. Sold For $ 20. Constantius II. AD 337-361. Æ Follis (15mm, 1.50g, 12h). Antioch mint, 15th officina. Struck AD 347-348. DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, bust facing right / VOTIS/XX/MVLT/XXX, legend in four lines in laurel wreath; SMANB. RIC VIII 113. Good VF, brown patina, deposits. From the Ken Bressett Collection. Ex Lincoln Higgie Hoard 1967 @ $7. The Lincoln Higgie Hoard was discovered in Turkey by Lincoln W. Higgie, III, in 1967 and sold to me intact. Most of the 40 pieces were Æ 4 Urbs Roma copper coins from seven mints.
I conclude by observing that the general and style characteristics of the coin in figure appear compatible with the coins of the period. The physical characteristics are unknown and therefore are not comparable with those indicated by Ric.

Best regards.
Giulio De Florio

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Notes:

(1) Æ follis of the type of figure, according to the RIC VIII, possess the following physical characteristics: diameter 15-16mm, weight c. 1,67g.
(2) DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG (Dominus Noster CONSTANTIVS Pius Felix AVGustus). For a short biographical note on Constantius II click here.
(3) VOT/XX/MVLT/XXX (Votis vicennalibus/Multis tricennalibus - Votes for the twentieth anniversary of reign and many for the thirtieth to come).
Indice Dietro Avanti