RIC VII, CONSTANTINOPLE [before 128], CONSTANTIUS II, UNLISTED LEGENDS AND BUST TYPE

OBVERSE	FLIVLCONSTANTIVSNOBC [FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C]; bust r., laur, dr., cuir.
REVERSE	CONSTAN-TIVSCAESAR [CONSTANTIVS CAESAR]; Victory advancing l., holding wreath, palm branch. CONSIA in exergue.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED LEGENDS AND BUST TYPE. Obverse similar to CONSTANTINOPLE 130 but not attested in RIC for this rev. type. Also rev. legend is not attested. Note that according to Lars Ramskold the single specimen sold by Lanz is authentic (Ramskold - Constantinople silver, p. 173: "As all other aspects of the Lanz specimen agrees with a genuine specimen, the only viable conclusion is that it is ancient."). Note also that Bruun apparently mixes two separate emissions with m.m. CONSA. Emission 3 (330-331) in Ramskold - Constantinople silver. Coin should be listed in RIC before CONSTANTINOPLE 128. Keep in mind, however, that the other specimens shown here are modern forgeries, mostly from infamous Bulgarian Lipanoff Studio. See: Ilya Prokopov, Contemporary Coin Engravers and Coin Masters From Bulgaria. "Lipanoff" Studio, Sofia 2004, p. 83, no. 141.

NOTES

Siliqua. Weight 3.21 g; diameter 19 mm. Coin sold on eBay (Numismatik Lanz) in November 2013 for EUR 202.96. Ex Lars Ramskold. Sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2775) in March 2023 for CHF 550. Other specimens [FORGERIES!]: - sold on Katz auction 34 (lot 1395) in August 2020 for EUR 64 [click for picture]; - the same type in gold (?) sold on eBay in March 2019 for EUR 521; weight 4.49 g; diameter 21-22 mm [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS; sold on eBay in June 2009 [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS; sold on eBay as a replica in October 2007; submitted by Maridvnvm [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS; sold on eBay in October 2007; submitted by Maridvnvm [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS; sold on eBay in June 2007 "without warranty"; submitted by Maridvnvm [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS [click for picture]; - from FORVUM ANCIENT COINS; submitted by Rupert [click for picture].