|
|
One of the more common Constantinian bronze types is the
Two Victories/"VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP" (VLPP) type, minted c. 313-320 AD in various cities, including
Rome; Ticinum, Pavia; Arles, Gaul; Lugdunum, Gaul; Trier, Gaul; London; and Siscia, Pannonia. Like many Roman coins
this type was intended to broadcast the propaganda message of Roman invincibility, with two standing Victories
on the reverse and the reverse legend translating into "To the Joyful Victories of Our Emperors Forever." |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Official issue Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 3.0g). Siscia, Pannonia (present-day Croatia), c. 318-319 AD. Sear 3883, RIC VII 53. Obverse: Constantine I facing right wearing a helmet, laurel wreath, and cuirass, "IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG" ("Commander in Chief Constantine I, Dutiful and Wise Emperor"), Reverse: Two winged Victories (Nikes) placing a shield inscribed with "VOT PR" ("Vows of the People of Rome" -- annual vows of loyalty to the Emperor) -- on an altar (sometimes identified as a cippus, or low typically square pillar) inscribed with an X and four pellets, "VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP" ("To the Joyful Victories of Our Emperors Forever"), E-S-I-S for Siscia, the easternmost city that minted this coin type. These coins were struck with a silvered surface, to make them appear to have higher instrinsic value, and some of the silvering remains on the above specimen. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 2.8g), c. 318-330 AD. Cartoonish portrait with large nose, double-struck mouth, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, exaggerated noses on Victories, illiterate legends, dot instead of "VOT PR." |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 1.8g), c. 318-330 AD. Cartoonish portrait with large nose, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (19mm, 2.9g), c. 318-330 AD. Cartoonish portrait with large nose, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends consisting mostly of H's. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-4 (16mm, 2.5g), c. 318-330 AD. Cartoonish portrait with long and thick neck, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 2.9g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic devices, including portrait and more carefully rendered Victories though breast of Victory on left accentuated by design and patina, illiterate legends consisting mostly of I's and some backward S's. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-4 (16mm, 1.6g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories carefully rendered except for exaggerated noses, illiterate legends. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 3.0g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic devices, accentuated cuirass, illiterate legends with obverse consisting mostly of I's, O's, and A's. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 2.3g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends consisting mostly of I's. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-4 (16mm, 2.5g), c. 318-330 AD. Angular portrait. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (18mm, 2.8g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends consisting primarily of I's on obverse and H's on reverse. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (17mm, 2.3g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends consisting of multiple shapes. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-2 (21mm, 3.1g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories with carefully rendered wings, illiterate legends consisting mostly of I's and S's. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (17mm, 2.5g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends consisting of multiple shapes. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (20mm, 3.1g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic devices, carefully rendered Victories, illiterate legends consisting of nonsensical letters, granular surfaces. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Tribal imitative Constantine I bronze AE-3 (17mm, 2.1g), c. 318-330 AD. Realistic portrait, Victories' wings each consisting of dotted line, illiterate legends consisting mostly of H's and I's, granular surfaces. |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zach Beasley has an excellent page on the Constantine Siscia VLPPs. Other Web sites about Constantine VLPP imitatives include those of Victor Clark, Warren Esty, Zach Beasley, and Ed Flinn. Other pages of mine on coins copying Athens, Alexander the Great, Lysimachos, Parion, Thasos, Constantine the Great, and other coins can be found at my site on Ancient Imitative Coinage. |
|
|
Other glomworthy coins:
Coin sites:
Coin Collecting: Consumer Protection
Guide
Glomming: Coin Connoisseurship
Bogos: Counterfeit Coins
Pre-coins
© 2013 Reid Goldsborough
Note: Any of the items illustrated on these pages that are in my possession are stored off site.