Ancient-Jewellery

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Roman Gold Solidus of Emperor Constantius II from the Sirmium mint

£1,785.00 Approx $2250.95, €2082.85

Code: 11881



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 / XXXV / MVLT / XXXX. Tricennalia issue.

This coin was struck at the Sirmium mint (SIRM), It bears the Officina mark of a star in crescent. 'BBFDDD-E-X' graffito on the obverse (most undertone), otherwise, nearly very fine.

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 355 - 361 AD)

MINTMARK: SIRM (Sirmium, northern Serbia)

SIZE: 20.50mm diameter

WEIGHT: 4.36 grams

ATTRIBUTION: Fr-866; RIC VIII 9; Cohen 112; Depeyrot 7/1.

PROVENANCE: Formerly in a private collection, Amsterdam. The Netherlands.