From the Gemini IV Auction, Closed January 8, 2008.
Lot # 511 - Auction is closed.Estimate: US$25000 / Price
Realized: US$20000
Constantine I. Gold solidus
Constantine I. (307-337 AD). Gold solidus (4.43 gm). Ticinum, 315
AD. CONSTANTI湧VS P F AVG, head laureate right / RECTOR TOTIVS
ORBIS, Constantine in military dress seated left on cuirass and two
shields, resting right hand on zodiac band and holding parazonium in
left, at right Victory standing left behind him places wreath on his
head and holds palm, S筆謬 in exergue; the zodiac band shows the
three signs Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer. Unpublished mintmark variant
of the previously unique aureus in BM, RIC 54 = Depeyrot 16/4 (p.
72) = Cohen 643 (800 francs). The second known specimen, and a new
variant, of this spectacular type, with the zodiac signs Bull,
Twins, and Crab actually depicted on the zodiac band held by the
emperor. Nearly mint state/extremely fine.
The previously unique BM solidus with this reverse type has mintmark
SMT, not S.M.T as on our coin. This reverse type, calling
Constantine RECTOR TOTIVS ORBIS, 典he Master of the Whole World,・
seems to refer to his defeat of Maxentius in 312, since a similar
type of the emperor seated holding zodiac, but without the figure of
Victory crowning him, also struck at Ticinum at about the same time,
calls the emperor RESTITVTOR LIBERTATIS, 典he Restorer of Liberty,・
the epithet Constantine assumed for eliminating Maxentius (RIC 39
and 55).
ｩ 2005-2008 Gemini, LLC | Email: info@geminiauction.com
Gemini Auctions' results, text and images are re-used by the kind permission of:
Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com)
and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com)