A Study of the Relative Rarity of Constantine the Great Bronze

by Evan Rankin

This spreadsheet was created to analyze the frequency of sales for Constantine I bronze coin reverse types by mint. Numbers above are the quantity of each type found for sale on eBay USA, Forum Ancient Coins, VCoins, and Chi-Rho coins, CNG, and HJB during the study period, 29 December 2003 to 29 February 2004. If more than 100 of a type was identified, the quantity over 100 was not recorded and the quantity is listed as 100+. Types without a quantity listed were not observed during the study.

Although the duration and scope of this study was limited, the results indicate large and perhaps surprising differences in the availability of the various types from the different mints. While perhaps this study is not a scientifically valid measure of rarity, it is probably as valid as other measurements currently available, including RIC.

The most common coin found was the Thessalonica 'PROVIDENTIAE AVGG' campgate type followed closely by the Siscia 'VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP' type. Coins of the VOT XX motif from Nicomedia are either extremely rare, or more likely, from Heraclea, although the mintmarks in both cases bear more of a resemblance to SMN then SMH.

Constantine I	Heraclea	Trier	Ticinium	Thesselonika	Nicomedia	Aquileia	Siscia	Constantinople	Alexandria	Antioch	Cyzius	Rome	London	Sirmium	Arles	Lugdunum	Ostia
Anepigraphic										1
ADVENTVS AVG, Constantine on Horseback
BEATA TRANQUILLITAS		42											3			3
COMITI AVGG NN, Mars w/ whip & globe													7
CONCORD MILIT													3
CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE								28
CONSERV-VRB SVAE			1			1
DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, Vot XX in wreath	40		35	64	1	8	38			1		4			10
DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, Vot XXX	37				2
FVNDA(T) (PA)CIS, Mars looking l.												1
GENIO AVGVSTI					2					3	3
GENIO POP ROM							1						1
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI												1
GLORIA EXERCITVS, Soldier stg.								10
GLORIA EXERCITVS, 1 standard				8	2		15	2		2	1
GLORIA EXERCITVS, 2 standards	26	1		26	19		26	26	2	14	8				5	1
GLORIA ROMANORVM, Roma seated								7
IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter stg.	27			61	23		44		3	3	38
LIBERTAS PVBLICA								8
MARTI CONSERVATORI, bust of mars		3
MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars stg. w/ spear		3														1
MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI		1
PACIS PERPET, figure w/ standard												5
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Emp stg.w/ 2 standards		1											2
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Prince stdg w/ spear													4
PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, Campgate	9	6		100+	33		66	2	4	11	65	7			3	1
PROVIDENTTIAE AVGG, two figures															1
RECVPERATORIVRB SVAE															1
ROMAE AETERNAE												1
SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS, owl atop altar		1
SARMATIA DEVICTA		8											2	12	1	5
SOLI INVICTO, head of serapis					1
SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol stg. w/ globe		37	19			2	2					52	13		11	23	2
SOLI INVICTO COMITI, bust of Mars		3
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI												12
VICTORIA AVGG NN, Victory w/ wreath				5
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP		12	16				85						6		22	8
VIRTVS AVGG, Campgate															2
VIRTVS EXERCIT, VOT XX in standard			15	10		2	13						2
VIRTVS EXERCIT, trophy standard		1
VO/TIS/XX							1								3
VOT XX MVLT XXX				18