Transfer of the Ostia Mint to Arles

CNG 97, Lot: 722. Estimate $200. Sold for $260. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Constantine I. AD 307/310-337. Æ Follis (19mm, 1.48 g, 6h). Arelate (Arles) mint, 1st officina. Struck AD 313-314. Laureate bust left, wearing trabea and holding eagle-tipped scepter / Soldier standing left, holding Victory on globe and pushing away Moneta, standing left on prow, holding scales and cornucopia; PARL. RIC VII 51 var. (unlisted officina); Ferrando 332; Roma III, lot 547. VF, green patina, earthen deposits. Extremely rare.

The reverse type represents the closure of the Ostia mint, which was transferred to Arles. The transfer may have coincided with Constantine’s departure from Rome early in AD 313. For further information about this issue, see RIC VII, p. 227.