Constantine NEWP

JCMhouston · April 27, 2016 11:51AM

Just got this one in, slightly different from most with the eyes gazing toward heaven.

Constantine I the Great (AD 307-337). Æ3 / BI nummus (2.61 gm). Heraclea, AD 327-329. Head of Constantine right, wearing jeweled diadem, eyes raised / VOT XXX in two lines within laurel wreath; •SMHB. RIC VII 92. Sharply struck, near full silvering. NGC MS* 5/5 - 5/5, silvering.

yosclimber · April 27, 2016 12:17PM

The obverse is very sharp, and the centering is amazing.
I guess the mushy section of the reverse legend is due to die deterioration??
It reminds me that I don't know exactly how NGC determines their "strike" scale.
Their webpage says they consider die state and die wear as factors determining their 1-5 strike rating.

JCMhouston · April 27, 2016 10:05PM

My belief, and it's really just a guess, is they don't count die wear in the strike category. Meaning that a coin struck from a very worn die could still get a 4 or 5 on strike.

brg5658 · April 27, 2016 11:06PM

Originally posted by: yosclimber

The obverse is very sharp, and the centering is amazing.

I guess the mushy section of the reverse legend is due to die deterioration??

It reminds me that I don't know exactly how NGC determines their "strike" scale.

Their webpage says they consider die state and die wear as factors determining their 1-5 strike rating.

They also seem more than happy to slab ancients with green growing on them.

JCMhouston · April 28, 2016 2:38AM

They also seem more than happy to slab ancients with green growing on them.

Yeah, but everyone does that, I've got a German States piece in a P holder with a huge glob of active PVC growing on it, still need to get that sent in to fix.

Andres · April 28, 2016 8:23AM

Beautifull coin, so much nicer then the usually worn dark ones. Congrats & thanks for showing

WildIdea · April 29, 2016 12:00AM

Very neat coin!

My Dad gave me a Constantine vot XX jubilee coin to as a gift to celebrate a 20 year anniversary. He's all into this character, had me looking into his life myself. Somehow the inscription means "20 more"? Damn near got me into buying more ancients. Reading seems enough for now though.

So yours shows a 30 year jubilee, pretty cool!

yosclimber · April 29, 2016 4:37AM

VOT XX
refers to Roman soldiers who have vowed to serve for 20 years.
See translations of many common reverses at:
http://www.romancoin.info/#Ide...ate Roman Bronze Coins

WildIdea · April 29, 2016 7:40AM

Originally posted by: yosclimber
VOT XX
refers to Roman soldiers who have vowed to serve for 20 years.
See translations of many common reverses at:
http://www.romancoin.info/#Ide...ate Roman Bronze Coins

Cool site, thanks for the link!

Constantine NEWP

Comments