Very Rare Mobile Mint
Lot 444: Valens. A.D. 364-378. AR siliqua. Mobile mint, A.D. 378. 
AUCTION: Triskeles - Auction 18 (Auction 322)
- Sold Winning Bid: $305
- 8 Bid(s)
Valens. A.D. 364-378. AR siliqua (18 mm, 1.98 g, 5 h). Mobile mint, A.D. 378. D N VALENS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Valens right / VOLT/XX/MVLT/XXX in four lines within wreath; CONCM. RIC 42bis.1. Extremely rare. Minor porosity. Very fine.
Ex R. Weinstein Collection (Lanz 102, 28 May 2001), 1046.
In RIC, Pearce suggested that the very unusual mint mark on this issue, CONCM, referred to Comit(atensis) M(ilitia) or M(oneta), and although he lists it under Constantinopolis, he alludes it to being struck by a traveling military mint for payment on Valens' last campaign against the Goths, which ended in his death at Hadrianopolis. So far, the issue is only known for Valens, not Gratian, which led Pearce to put it in his Third Period - in fact, it is the only issue which he ascribes specifically to it. The coin differs stylistically from contemporary issues from Constantinople, with the style of the lettering both more crisp and severe, and with very pronounced serifs.
- Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
- Lot #: 444
- Listing #: 195662
- Closed: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 7:41:30 PM CT
- Estimate: $200