ID Needed if possible

DesertRat

Both of these are tiny coins (Smaller than a modern US dime)

#1


#2



I apologize for the dust on #2 obverse.

Is the green spot on #1 what I hear referred to as the "plague"?

And is the green on #2 PVC?


Thanks

Silvereagle82

Are they gold ?? If so, I don't think the green is PVC.

DesertRat

<< <i>Are they gold ?? If so, I don't think the green is PVC. >>



no these are bronze I believe.

Sapyx

Dark green is the "normal" patina bronze and copper coins are found with after a millennium or two underground in damper climates, and retaining it (as opposed to cleaning it off) is considered desirable by most ancients collectors. Pale green patches, however, may well be a sign of "bronze disease" or verdigris, which can slowly spread and turn an entire coin into a crumbly green powder if left untreated. I can't make a judgement on that coin without seeing it in more "true to life" colour. As to identifying:

Coin 1: looks like Constantius II (337-361 AD)- it's definitely someone whose name ends in "TIVS". I can't make out the reverse type or mintmark, but my best guess is a FEL TEMP REPARATIO "soldier spearing horseman" type, like this one.

Coin 2: Being a 20 year vow-of-service "commemorative", it's from one of the longer-reigning emperors. I can't make out the obverse legend or the mintmark at the bottom of the reverse, but best-guesses are Emperor Constans (337-350 AD) or perhaps Constantius II again, mintmark SMHS (Heraclea) or perhaps SMANS (Antioch). Something like this one.

DesertRat

<< <i>Dark green is the "normal" patina bronze and copper coins are found with after a millennium or two underground in damper climates, and retaining it (as opposed to cleaning it off) is considered desirable by most ancients collectors. Pale green patches, however, may well be a sign of "bronze disease" or verdigris, which can slowly spread and turn an entire coin into a crumbly green powder if left untreated. I can't make a judgement on that coin without seeing it in more "true to life" colour. As to identifying:

Coin 1: looks like Constantius II (337-361 AD)- it's definitely someone whose name ends in "TIVS". I can't make out the reverse type or mintmark, but my best guess is a FEL TEMP REPARATIO "soldier spearing horseman" type, like this one.

Coin 2: Being a 20 year vow-of-service "commemorative", it's from one of the longer-reigning emperors. I can't make out the obverse legend or the mintmark at the bottom of the reverse, but best-guesses are Emperor Constans (337-350 AD) or perhaps Constantius II again, mintmark SMHS (Heraclea) or perhaps SMANS (Antioch). Something like this one. >>




Thank you!

Coin #1 -You are right on. The reverse is very worn but enough detail can be seen when held at an angle to verify the soldier standing to the right with the sword as well as the fallen horseman. The mint mark is unreadable but the basic shape coincides to those in the photo you linked.

Coin #2 - You got this one as well based on the description in the coin you posted the link to. The reverse is very readable with the first two lines being VOT, XX. The second line looks to me to be MIILT due to the separation at the bottom of the two I's, however the slight angle to the first "I" indicates it is probably a "V". Third line is definitely XXX. The mint mark is fairly readable in good lighting with a lens with the first and last letters being S. The spacing of the letters would indicate a five letter mm and given the 45 degree donward leg in the fourth letter I would say it is a "N" so would be the mm of SMANS or Antioch. This coin is in much better condition than the one pictured in your link so that made it easier to verify. Helps to know where to look

I picked both these up as unidentified coins from an estate sale for $35 total so I didn't do too bad, maybe a tad bit high but not by much.

Thanks again for the ID and I now have that site bookmarked!

Danny

Sapyx

Glad I could help.


<< <i>The second line looks to me to be MIILT due to the separation at the bottom of the two I's, however the slight angle to the first "I" indicates it is probably a "V". >>


Late Roman die-cutters could get pretty lazy with the angular strokes in the lettering sometimes, particularly if they were using seriffed punches. A, H and V looking like II, N looking like III and even M looking like IIII!