RIC VII, CONSTANTINOPLE [after 53], ANONYMOUS, UNLISTED 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. Half siliqua or one third siliqua. 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 also forgeries of this type exist. See rather poor and obvious example from eBay (2021, 1.70 g) but note that some of these forgeries may be really dangerous. Therefore, not all coins listed below as genuine should be treated as undoubtedly authentic! Coin could be noted after CONSTANTINOPLE 53.

NOTES

AR fraction. Weight 1.79 g; diameter 18 mm. Sold on Morton & Eden auction 83/84 (lot 626) in December 2016 for GBP 650. Ex Lars Ramskold. Sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2812) in March 2023 for CHF 1,600. Other specimens: - ex CNG auction 55 (lot 1448), September 2000; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2813) in March 2023 for CHF 460; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 27 (lot 2119) in September 2023 for CHF 950; weight 1.25 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 147 (lot 2337) in March 2006 for EUR 460; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 2814) in March 2023 for CHF 600; weight 1.47 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Pecunem (Solidus Numismatik) 25 (lot 284) in November 2014 for EUR 400; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 5083) in July 2023 for CHF 420; weight 1.00 g; diameter 15 mm [click for picture]; - sold on CNG Mail Bid Sale 61 (lot 2080) in September 2002 for USD 820; sold on CNG Triton XIV (lot 839) in January 2011 for USD 1,700; weight 1.30 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 4930) in July 2023 for CHF 800; weight 1.47 g; diameter 18 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction 33 (lot 598) in April 2006 for CHF 1,600; weight 1.20 g [click for picture]; - sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 4931) in July 2023 for CHF 460; weight 1.25 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - sold on CNG Mail Bid Sale 67 (lot 1772) in September 2004 for USD 1,250; weight 1.24 g [click for picture]; - sold on CNG eAuction 360 (lot 495) in September 2015 for USD 550; ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 30 (lot 2881) in July 2024 for CHF 222; sold on Numismatik Naumann auction 146 (lot 1019) in November 2024 for EUR 375; weight 1.35 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - ex Lars Ramskold; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 28 (lot 4798) in December 2023 for CHF 140; sold on Numismatik Naumann auction 139 (lot 885) in April 2024 for EUR 240; weight 1.35 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction 40 (lot 856) in May 2007 for CHF 1,000; weight 1.20 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 138 (lot 2424) in March 2005 for EUR 650; weight 1.61 g [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 269 (lot 1211) in March 2005 for EUR 850; weight 1.65 g [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatik Naumann auction 118 (lot 957) in July 2022 for EUR 350; sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (lot 4932) in July 2023 for CHF 340; weight 1.23 g; diameter 16 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 216 (lot 3271) in October 2013 for EUR 350; weight 1.40 g [click for picture]; - sold on Concordia Numismatic auction 7 (lot 548) in September 2023 for EUR 475; weight 1.21 g; diameter 17.22 mm [click for picture]; - from Gorny & Mosch auction 245 (lot 1787), March 2017; sold on Hervera Subasta Numismática 1105 – Room auction only (lot 1219) in October 2018 for EUR 150; weight 0.81 g [click for picture]. Specimens identified as dangerous FORGERIES by Lars Ramskold: - sold on Roma Numismatics eSale 36 (lot 797) in May 2017 for GBP 520; weight 1.30 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Künker auction 333 (lot 1497) in March 2020 for EUR 800; sold on Numismatik Naumann auction 92 (lot 872) in August 2020 for EUR 1,000; sold on Berk Buy or Bid Sale 213 (lot 351) in November 2020 for USD 1,750; weight 1.43 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on eBay in July 2020 for EUR 628; sold on Gadoury Monaco 2021 (lot 165) in October 2021 for EUR 800; weight 1.24 g; diameter 17.5 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 237 (lot 2159) in March 2016 for EUR 425; weight 1.13 g [click for picture]; - from TimeLine Auctions; 1.47 g; diameter 17.52 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatik Lanz auction 159 (lot 594) in December 2014 for EUR 490; weight 1.46 g [click for picture]; - sold on eBay in August 2022 for GBP 99; weight 1.49 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - sold on Lucernae Numismatics DECIMOSEPTIMA XVII (lot 754) sold in Decemeber 2023 for EUR 440; weight 1.16 g; diameter 17 mm [click for picture]; - from FORVM ANCIENT COINS; posted by Din X [click for picture]. - sold on Aureo & Calicó auction 280-1 (lot 79) in July 2016 for EUR 400; weight 1.38 g [click for picture].