Ancients
Constantius II, as Augustus (AD 337-361). AV solidus (21mm, 4.47 gm, 7h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Sirmium, AD 355-361. FL IVL CONSTAN-TIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, cuirassed bust of Constantius II facing, head slightly right, spear in right hand over shoulder, shield in left decorated with horseman motif / GLORIA-REI-PVBLICAE, Roma (on left), enthroned facing, spear in left hand, and Constantinopolis (on right), enthroned left, scepter in left hand, jointly holding between them with their right hands a shield inscribed VOT / XXXV / MVLT / XXXX; MSIR between two branches in exergue. RIC VIII 60. Near pristine detailing from the bold strike is silhouetted by flashy fields of honey.
The armored 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.
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HID02906262019
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