Extremely Rare Constans Miliarensis

CNG 93, Lot: 1263. Estimate $5000. Sold for $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Constantius II. As Caesar, AD 324-337. AR Miliarensis (24mm, 4.42 g, 7h). Siscia mint. Struck AD 326-327. CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust right / CONSTANTIVS CAESAR, four signa; SIS. RIC VIII 211 = Gnecchi 20 corr. (obv. legend); RSC 17†d corr. (same). Good VF, light cleaning marks, some light porosity. Extremely rare, possibly the second known (none in CoinArchives or ANS photofile).

Both RIC and Gnecchi refer to a broken coin in Budapest, of which the end of the obverse legend is apparently unclear (cf. RIC VIII 211 note). RIC notes the legend as CONSTANTIVS NOB C, while Gnecchi lists CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, which certainly must be incorrect. As there are no additional examples or corrections to the listing noted in L. Sabetta’s updates of RIC VII (in RIN vols. LXXXIV–LXXXV [1982–3]), it is possible that the present piece may be the the second known example, and the only one of which that has the obverse legend fully readable. It is also likely that the RIC reading of the legend, as NOB C, is incorrect as the contemporary issues at other mints use NOB CAES, which probably was the formula proscribed for all mints to follow.