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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
354, Lot: 604. Estimate $150.
Sold for $170. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Constantine II. As Caesar, AD 316-337. Æ Follis (18mm, 3.68 g, 12h). Cyzicus mint, 3rd officina. Struck AD 325-326. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left / Camp gate with two turrets; star above; SMKΓ•. RIC VII 37. VF, black patina. A heavy specimen with the edges hammered in antiquity. An interesting, small, proto-contorniate. Very rare.


Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 279 (16 May 2012), lot 632.

Proto-contorniate is the modern term used to describe Roman Imperial and Provincial bronze coins of the first, second, and early third centuries with hammered-up edges. These raised edges on the rims probably occurred after these bronze issues no longer circulated and ceased to be part of the currency in general use. These proto-contorniates are of both emperors and empresses and consist almost exclusively of earlier sestertii, dupondii, and asses. Although several different theories to explain this alteration have been offered over the years, it is generally accepted today that these were given by friends and family to each other as New Year’s gifts, perhaps in the late third and first half of the fourth centuries. This was first proposed by Andreas Alföldi in Die Kontorniaten (Budapest, 1943). The rims hammered in this manner gave them a distinctive appearance. This fourth century follis has the same hammered rim creating a raised edge around on both sides. Although smaller in size and later in date than these other traditional denominations used for this purpose, this example shows the same characteristics of earlier proto-contorniates.