Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 135 21 Nov 2022
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The Roman Empire. Constantius I Chlorus caesar, 293 – 305.
Aureus, Treviri circa 295-305, AV 5.69 g. CONSTAN – TIVS NOB C Laureate head r. Rev. PIETAS AVGG – ET CAESS NN Pietas standing facing, head r., holding an infant in her arms and with a child standing r. at her feet, raising his hands to her. In exergue, TR. C –. Evans, NC 1930, 26 (these dies). Baldwin-Brett, NC 1933, 111 (these dies). Bastien & Metzger Beaurains 387 (this coin listed). RIC 74a. Depeyrot 10C/4. Calicó 4863.
Very rare. A magnificent portrait of masterly style perfectly struck and centred on a
full flan with a lovely light reddish tone. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex Ars Classica XVII, 1934, Evans, 1860. From the Beaurains (Arras) hoard of 1922.
Of humble origin, Flavius Valerius Constantius 'Chlorus' had a distinguished military career and rose to the top ranks of the army. Around 289 he set aside Helena, Constantine's mother, to marry a daughter of Emperor Maximian, and in 293 was added to the imperial college by Diocletian. Assigned to rule Gaul, Constantius defeated the usurper Carausius and his successor Allectus in Britain, and campaigned extensively along the Rhine frontier, defeating the Alamanni and Franks. Upon becoming senior emperor in May 305, Constantius launched a successful campaign against the Picts beyond the Antonine Wall but he died suddenly at Eboracum (York) in July the following year. This aureus was part of the famous Beaurains (Arras) hoard, discovered in 1922. The hoard was found by workmen and was comprised of gold and silver coins, jewellery and silverware. Many of them were stolen shortly after the discovery by workmen during the following night. As the result of legal action, they gave back a number of coins and jewels, but retained the larger part, in particular, the gold multiples which they sold in Belgium. Scholars reconstructed the hoard using material from private collections, publications, articles and sales catalogues. Of a total of approximately 700 specimens, 472 coins have been catalogued. Its composition suggests that most of the coins were issued on the occasion of donativa and they were hoarded as soon as they were distributed. Thus the owner of the Beaurains (Arras) hoard must have been an officer who shared in several donativa, suggesting a long and continuous military career from approximately AD 285 to 310. However, by AD 303, the officer must have reached a high rank as he collected at least 138 aurei, a substantial sum at that time.
Graded Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5 Fine style brushed, NGC certification number 6556714-039
Aureus, Treviri circa 295-305, AV 5.69 g. CONSTAN – TIVS NOB C Laureate head r. Rev. PIETAS AVGG – ET CAESS NN Pietas standing facing, head r., holding an infant in her arms and with a child standing r. at her feet, raising his hands to her. In exergue, TR. C –. Evans, NC 1930, 26 (these dies). Baldwin-Brett, NC 1933, 111 (these dies). Bastien & Metzger Beaurains 387 (this coin listed). RIC 74a. Depeyrot 10C/4. Calicó 4863.
Very rare. A magnificent portrait of masterly style perfectly struck and centred on a
full flan with a lovely light reddish tone. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex Ars Classica XVII, 1934, Evans, 1860. From the Beaurains (Arras) hoard of 1922.
Of humble origin, Flavius Valerius Constantius 'Chlorus' had a distinguished military career and rose to the top ranks of the army. Around 289 he set aside Helena, Constantine's mother, to marry a daughter of Emperor Maximian, and in 293 was added to the imperial college by Diocletian. Assigned to rule Gaul, Constantius defeated the usurper Carausius and his successor Allectus in Britain, and campaigned extensively along the Rhine frontier, defeating the Alamanni and Franks. Upon becoming senior emperor in May 305, Constantius launched a successful campaign against the Picts beyond the Antonine Wall but he died suddenly at Eboracum (York) in July the following year. This aureus was part of the famous Beaurains (Arras) hoard, discovered in 1922. The hoard was found by workmen and was comprised of gold and silver coins, jewellery and silverware. Many of them were stolen shortly after the discovery by workmen during the following night. As the result of legal action, they gave back a number of coins and jewels, but retained the larger part, in particular, the gold multiples which they sold in Belgium. Scholars reconstructed the hoard using material from private collections, publications, articles and sales catalogues. Of a total of approximately 700 specimens, 472 coins have been catalogued. Its composition suggests that most of the coins were issued on the occasion of donativa and they were hoarded as soon as they were distributed. Thus the owner of the Beaurains (Arras) hoard must have been an officer who shared in several donativa, suggesting a long and continuous military career from approximately AD 285 to 310. However, by AD 303, the officer must have reached a high rank as he collected at least 138 aurei, a substantial sum at that time.
Graded Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 3/5 Fine style brushed, NGC certification number 6556714-039