RIC VII, CONSTANTINOPLE [after 26], CONSTANTINE I, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND AND BUST TYPE [B5] [IRREGULAR COIN]

OBVERSE	CONSTAN-TINVSAVG [CONSTANTINVS AVG]; head r., rosette-diadem, looking upwards.
REVERSE	SPES-PVBLIC [SPES PVBLIC]; rev. legend across field; labarum, with three medallions on drapery and crowned by Christogram, pierces serpent. A in left field. CONS in exergue.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND AND BUST TYPE - E5. RIC lists for this type only longer obv. legend CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG [CONSTANTINOPLE 19 and CONSTANTINOPLE 26]. Shorter legend was in use earlier [CONSTANTINOPLE 7] so the present specimen might belong there. Also bust type E5 is not attested for this rev. Apparently not an official issue and this specimen should be regarded as an ancient imitation. However, modern forgery also cannot be excluded. See: Lars Ramskold, "Highly Deceptive Forgeries of Constantine’s SPES PVBLIC Coinage", The Celator, December 2009, pp. 18-32 (this type not attested).

NOTES

Weight 2.43 g; diameter 16.1 mm. Coin sold on Vico online auction 21 (lot 286) in July 2023 for EUR 850.