Constantine the Great AE Follis. 315-316 AD.

OBVS: IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, (different bust than listed in RIC Laureate, cuirassed bust right)

REV: SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left with orb and raising right hand, C-S/PARL in ex.

Arles RIC VII 57

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Imperial Rome, Constantine the Great

307 - 337 AD. AE-Follis of 313 AD.

Obverse: IMP. C. FL. VAL. CONSTANTINVS P.F. AVG., his laureate head rt.

Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing lt., holding Nike and a sceptre, and eagle stands before him, B in rt. field, SMHT in ex. RIC.VI.5.

Heraclea Mint. 4.27g.

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Imperial Rome, Constantine the Great 307 - 337 AD.

AE3 Obv: CONSTANTINVSAVG - Helmeted, cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVSEXERCIT Exe: TS - Vexillum reading VOT/XX; seated captive on either side. 320  EF with a substantive amount of silvering remaining. RIC VII 75 (Thessalonica)I

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Constantius II 334-335 AD 

Obs:Laureate head with armor shoulder plate. Writing partly visible on reverse with 2 helmeted soldiers holding spears and shields resting on legs facing each other. Two Signums inbetween soldiers. Bronze with a brown Patination. Crack to right of bust. Well centered on flan both sides.  aVF
 

Constantius II (Augustus) AE2

Ruled: 337-360 AD

OBVS: DNCONSTANTIVSPFAVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

REV: FELTEMPREPARATIO - Constantius II standing left, holding labarum (with CROSS instead of chi-rho) and resting hand on shield; two captives to left.

Exergue: *, SMHB

Mint:Heraclea (348-351)References:
• RIC 72 (VIII, Heraclea)
Less common with the cross in the labarum.

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Reverse: VOT XX MVLT XXX in four lines within wreath.
Mintmark SMND.

RIC VIII Nicomedia 49
 

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Constantine I

Similar to the following style A.D. 334- Sept. 335

Obverse. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.
Reverse. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.

Information:

Examples of 4th century barbarous coins can be much smaller than even this coin. At 9mm it is not untypical for British imitations which the patina on your coin suggests as well. There were several periods of what Boon coined "epidemic" counterfeiting, as opposed to "endemic" (normal 'background' level) counterfeiting. The epidemics are periods when counterfeiting becomes rampant and the module of the counterfeits declines steadily down to tiny minimi.

The particular epidemic which spawned the copy in question here began with the reform of AD 335 and which produced copies of GLORIA EXERCITUS (both types) and the Constantinian commemoratives (both types) in a steadily declining module down to 7mm / 0.3gm and occasionally even smaller (see Bastien ANSMN 30, pp. 144-145 and for detailed metrology pp. 149-151).

This epidemic continued until the reform of 348 in which all previous bronze coinage was demonetized and the FEL TEMP REPARATIO half-maiorina introduced.

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Caesar: 355-360 AD

OBS: D N IVLIA-NVS NOB C, draped & cuirassed bust right /

REV: FEL TEMP-REPARATIO, soldier spearing fallen horseman who is wearing a Phrygian helmet, reaching backwards, DSISL in ex.

Mint: Siscis RIC 382

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Ruled: 360-363 AD

*History Note*

Julian II was the last Roman Emperor who was Pagan, as indicated by his many coins with Bulls and other Pagan symbols on them.  Julian however was also in favor on polytheism, in which Christianity was not repressed as much as ALL religions were allowed to continue. Julian also began many reform to try and streamline the administration and government itself.  Julian was also the last emperor who ruled the entire empire for a lengthy period of time (Theodosius I did for a short period in 394 AS).  Sadly Julian died in battle after major victories in Persia, and the armies subsequent withdrawal.

A 18mm Silver Siliqua. 361-363 AD

OBVS: DN FL CL IVLI-ANVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and bearded bust right /

REV: VOT X MVLT XX within laurel wreath, eagle in badge at top of wreath, SCONST in ex

Mint: Arles RIC 309

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Ruled: 360-363 AD

AE1, 6.9g, 29mm

OBVS: Head of Julian II right, with DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG around.

REV: Bull standing right, with two stars above, SECVRITAS REIPVB around, and the mint mark

Mint: Thessalonica, 2nd officina

Extremely well struck on both sides with a nice dark patina. Rare mint and coin.

RIC 225

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Procupius to come
 

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Ruled: 364-375 AD

Obverse: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right

Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor dragging captive, holding labarum, BSIRM in ex.

Rated Rare in RIC. Sirmium RIC 4a  364 AD.
 

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Ruled: 364-375 AD

Obverse: DN VALENTINIANVS PF AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right

Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor dragging captive, holding labarum, BSIRM in ex.

Rated Rare in RIC. Sirmium RIC 4a 364 AD.
 

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Obverse: DNGRATIANVSPFAVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: VOT/XV/MVLT/XX Exe: A/SISC - Wreath, legend within. [RIC emission I is for officina A].

378-383 Siscia mint.

RIC 31a.1 (Siscia) LRBC 1539

**Note: He attempted to assist Emperor Valens at the battle of Adrianople in 378 AD.  Valens however went into battle without the extra troops and was defeated by the Goth army.  The whole veteran Eastern legions were destroyed and the Emperor slain.  Many historians consider this a huge turning point in Roman History, as the army never recovered from this and the resulting Barbarian incursions devastated the lands.  In 476 AD the western empire no longer existed.

See here for more detailed information.

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Ruled: 364-378 AD

Obverse: D N VALEN-S P F AVG - Diademed bust right, draped and cuirassed.

Reverse: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.  RIC 10b

Mint: Possibly Heraclea SMHA
 

**Note: Valens was killed in battle in 378 AD fighting a large Gothic invasion/rebellion at Adrianople. Nearly 10,000 veteran legionaries from the Persian frontier were killed in the battle.  Considered the worst Roman defeat since the Battle of Canae, Valens pushed ahead into battle without proper scouting and without waiting for the Western Legions who were not far away to help re-enforce the army.  Many historians consider this a huge turning point in Roman History, as the army never recovered from this and the resulting Barbarian incursions devastated the lands.  In 476 AD the western empire no longer existed.

See here for more detailed information.

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Ruled: 364-378 AD

Obverse: D N VALEN-S P F AVG - Diademed bust right, draped and cuirassed.

Reverse: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE - Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.

Exe: (dot) ASISC (2nd Emission) Siscia mint: AD 364-367 = RIC IX, 7b, page 146 - Cohen 37/ 3.58 g.

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Theodosius I (Eastern Emperor)

379-395 AD 12.5mm AE4

OBVS: DN THEODO-SIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
 

REV: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, dragging captive (upright)
and carrying trophy on shoulder.

Mintmark SMKB.

RIC 26b (mint mark hard to read, however this style has a similar die to this example, therefore I went with the Cyzicus mint)
 

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Usurper 392-395 AD

*History Note*

Eugenius lost the battle of Frigidus in 394 AD against Theodosius I East army.  The western army had heavy losses which severely affected its ability to stop Barbarian incursions. By 410 AD Rome was sacked by Gothic troops formally in Roman army as mercenaries.

A clipped 13mm Silver Siliqua.  

OBVS: DN EVGENI-VS PF AVG, bearded, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right /

REV: VRBS-ROMA, Roma, seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and inverted spear with barb.

Lyons Mint
RIC IX 46 (as reverse strike is identical)

However could also be Milan Mint RIC IX 32c due to similar bust style.

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