Commemorative Series AE Orichalcum Medalette
Constantinople AD 330
Obverse: RO-MA, helmeted, draped bust of Roma right, wearing
pearl necklace
Reverse: P-R, Virtus (or Roma) standing front, head to right,
holding inverted spear in her right hand and placing her left on shield set on
ground
RIC VIII Rome 104
**A VERY RARE AND
INTERESTING TYPE**
RIC VIII attributes this type to Rome from AD
348, but modern scholarship shows that this type was actually minted in
Constantinople by Constantine I at the same time as the more common
commemorative issues; this coin is also BRASS and not bronze thus is classified
as a “half-medallion” type; Dr. Lars Ramskold states in his study that this
type would have had a very limited minting and thus the reason why so few of
these exist today
Granted, this half-medallion doesn't look like much, and to an 'untrained eye' so to speak would likely be considered a cull coin or more impolitely, garbage; however this is one of the rarest coins/medallions that we know to exist and as Dr Ramskold states, it is a miracle in and of itself that any of them have survived!
Ex Tom Vossen, Ex The Ramskold Collection
All coins are authentic and from my own personal collection. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Over the coming weeks I will be adding more fixed price listings of Late Roman Bronze Coins so please check back with me.
If
there is any specific type you are looking for let me know. I have an
extensive Late Antique collection with AE and some AR issues dating from
the mid 3rd Century AD to the 8th Century AD
I
strive to make accurate impressions of the coins I list, thus my
listings tend to have a multitude of photos, taken under different light
sources and from different angles, as there is nothing worse (in my
opinion) than purchasing a coin and having it arrive looking nothing
like the photo!
Thank You
***Note***
I
do understand that I have the price set high, but I do this to ensure
that only people who know what they are looking at will make an offer; I
do not do this to be rude or elitist, but to ensure these coins go to a
collection in which they will be appreciated, as I have spent the best
part of the past 20 years putting my own collection together, and all
coins I list are from my personal collection