RIC VII, LYONS [before 40], CONSTANTINE I, UNLISTED BUST TYPE [G1 l. var.]

OBVERSE	CONSTANTI-NVSMAXA-VG [CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG]; bust l., laur., dr. (with traces of cuirass), spear (or sceptre) across r. shoulder [G1 l. var.].
REVERSE	SOLIINVIC-TOCOMITI [SOLI INVICTO COMITI]; Sol stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, raising r. hand, globe in l. hand. TF in left field, star in right field. PLG in exergue.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED BUST TYPE - G1 l. var. Bust type similar to G1 (draped only) or G2 (cuirassed only) but not attested in RIC VII. Coin should not be confused with LYONS 40 (from Bastien Lyon (294-316); plate LXIV, no. 581) with bust G2 l. Listed in Bastien Lyon - supplément II (p. 134, no. 581α; bust F*5 var. "(haste) avec paludamentum"). Note, however, that also similar type is listed separately in Bastien Lyon - supplément II (p. 134, no. 581α; bust F*4 "(sceptre)"). Additionally, Bastien lists virtually identical type in Bastien Lyon - supplément I (p. 48. no. 579β) with bust marked this time as F*, i.e. with shield on l. arm ("bouclier sur l'épaule gauche"). If there is really a shield, this bust type should be marked in RIC as G5 l. var. It is significantly different from bust G5 l. on LYONS 41 (from Bastien Lyon (294-316); plate LXIV, no. 580) and therefore still unlisted. The present author decided to list all these three types together. Should be listed in RIC before LYONS 40 or (with shield) before LYONS 41.

NOTES

Weight 3.05 g; diameter 20 mm. Coin sold on CGB Monnaies 27 (lot 401) in October 2006 for EUR 380. Other specimens: - from Bastien Lyon - supplément II (plate XXXVII, no. 581α); weight 3.50 g [click for picture]; - from Bastien Lyon - supplément II (plate XXXVII, no. 581β); rev. legend break S-A; possibly sceptre instead of spear [click for picture]; - from Bastien Lyon - supplément I (plate IX, no. 579β); weight 3.00 g [click for picture].