RIC VII, CONSTANTINOPLE [after 53], ANONYMOUS, UNLISTED Æ ISSUE (star and wreath)

OBVERSE	ANEPIGRAPHIC (no legend); star of eight rays ending in pellets.
REVERSE	ANEPIGRAPHIC (no legend); laurel wreath.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED ISSUE. Minted probably in spring 330 for the celebrations of the official dedication of Constantinople (11 May 330). The symbolic meaning of an eight-rayed star and a laurel wreath (corona triumphalis) is uncertain. See: Simon Bendall, "An anonymous Constantinian coinage", Numismatic Fine Arts Inc. Journal 1986, no. 32, pp. 2-3; Simon Bendall, "Some comments on the anonymous silver coinage of the fourth to sixth centuries A.D.", Revue Numismatique 2002, no. 158, pp. 139-159; Simon Bendall, "Two New Anonymous Constantinian Coins", Numismatic Circular August 2008, vol. 116, no. 4, pp. 185-187; Lars Ramskold, "Coins and Medallions Struck for the Inauguration of Constantinopolis 11 May 330", Niš and Byzantium IX, 2011, pp. 125-157. However, according to Ramskold's recent studies, coins with eight-rayed star (or at least some of them) may have been minted ten years earlier in Thessalonica. Note that dangerous forgeries of this type exist and some coins listed below may not by undoubtedly authentic! Coin should be noted after CONSTANTINOPLE 53.

NOTES

Æ fraction. Weight 1.15 g; diameter 16 mm. Sold on Classical Numismatic Auctions XII (lot 1101) in September 1990. Ex Rick Morton. Sold on CNG eAuction 338 (lot 283) in November 2014 for USD 425. Other specimens: - ex Gorny & Mosch auction 134 (lot 3088), October 2004; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2815) in March 2023 for CHF 420; weight 1.56 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatik Lanz auction 158 (lot 663) in June 2014 for EUR 700; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2816) in March 2023 for CHF 550; weight 1.40 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - sold on CNG auction 103 (lot 880) in September 2016 for USD 550; weight 1.12 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatik Naumann auction 79 (lot 684) in July 2019 for EUR 400; weight 1.69 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Roma Numismatics auction XIV (lot 806) in September 2017 for GBP 625; weight 1.11 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Solidus Sommer-Auktion 43 Live (lot 427) in June 2019 for EUR 525; weight 1.57 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Rauch auction 86 (lot 1222) in May 2010 for EUR 360; weight 3.24 g (sic!) [click for picture]; - sold on CNG eAuction 186 (lot 209) in April 2008 for USD 575; weight 1.29 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - sold on eBay in October 2012 for USD 900; weight 1.9 g; diameter 18 mm [click for picture].