weight 3,76gr. | billon Ø 20mm.
officina 2
obv. Bust of Constans left, wearing pearl-diadem, cuirass and
paludamentum, holding globe in left hand, surrounded by the legend
DN CONSTA - NS P F AVG
rev. Constans, draped, cuirassed, standing left, holding labarum (standard
with Chi-Rho on banner) in right hand and resting left hand on shield
before him, two bound captives, standing facing, wearing Phrygian caps.
heads turned toward one another, surrounded by the legend
FEL TEMP - REPARATIO, BSIS in exergue
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
Leading modern numismatists agree that the extensive FEL TEMP REPARATIO series began in 348, when a monetary reform took place. It also coincides with Rome′s 1100th anniversary on 21 April 348, and its extensive celebration. The text therefore refers to the greatness of Rome and the desire to restore and continue it. This legend is probably the abbreviation of FELICIS TEMPORIS REPARATIO (singular) or FELICORUM TEMPORUM REPARATIO (plural), meaning ′re-establishment of the happy (prosperous) time(s).
On the Falling Horseman type, Virtus or a Roman soldier is shown spearing a barbarian horseman. Varieties show this barbarian in different poses but in all he is dying. Of all Roman coins showing a battle scene, this series is unusual in showing the moment of death and contends with a Republican denarius (of M. Sergius Sileus) showing a severed head as the most violent and gruesome Roman coin. The barbarians who died on these coins were from several different tribes and countries. Some can be identified with some degree of certainty by their attire, hair and beards.
The Phrygian cap (or erroneously referred to as liberty cap) is a soft conical cap with the apex bent over, associated in antiquity with several peoples in Eastern Europe and Anatolia, including the Persians, the Medes and the Scythians, as well as in the Balkans, Dacia, Thrace and in Phrygia, where the name originated.
Cohen 14 | RIC 224 | LRBC II, 1116 | Sear 18703
Splendid specimen with excellent details. About as struck.
xf/unc
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