Code: 11884
This is an ancient Roman gold Solidus of emperor Constantius II who reigned from 337 - 361 AD.
Obverse: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG "Flavius Julius Constantius, Pious and Blessed Emperor" Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif.
Reverse: GLORIA REI PVBLICAE "Glory of the State" Roma and Constantinopolis seated facing on double throne, holding between them a shield inscribed VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX. Tricennalia issue.
This coin was struck at the Nicomedia mint (SMNS), It bears the Officina mark of "S" for Seconda or the 2nd Officina at the Nicomedia mint.
The armoured three-quarter facing bust type seen on this solidus was an innovation by Constantius II that became an archetype for Late Roman and Byzantine coinage struck at Eastern mints. Later die engravers took less care to produce a distinctive portrait, however, and from the later fourth century forward the imperial busts became generic and virtually interchangeable.
DENOMINATION: Solidus
MATERIAL: Gold
DATE: 337 - 361 AD (this coin minted between 351 - 355 AD)
MINTMARK: SMNS (Nicomedia, Turkey)
SIZE: 21mm diameter
WEIGHT: 4.40 grams
ATTRIBUTION: RIC VIII 74; Depeyrot 5/2; Cohen 112.
