Identifying Common Fourth Century Roman Bronze Coins

You will be left with coins with bare - headed portraits on the obverse. If you are lucky, you might have one or more with a helmeted head on the obverse. Coins with the head or bust facing right are much more common than the left facing portraits. The most important thing at this point is that you have the diademmed head or bust on the obverse and that the coin is a fairly thin bronze one rather than a thick copper or silver one. On all of these except for a rather rare example of Constantine's coinage, there will be writing around the emperor's head though it may be corroded and have funny - looking letters. The next article in this series will provide help with reading these inscriptions surounding the emporer's head.

Turn the coin over and have a quick at the reverse. See if it even vaguely matches one of the types listed in the small table of contents below. As you explore the rest of the articles and picture essays in the Late Roman Bronze series, you will see many examples of these types in conditions ranging from almost mint to well - worn and corroded. Don't make the mistake of sneering at the humble, corroded pieces. They form part of a fascinating series and give a picture of coin production in about twenty late Roman cities. Also, it is possible that you might find some real rarities amongst the dealers' junk boxes. The author had the recent pleasure of finding a worn Wolf and Twins commemorative in a dealer's two dollar box at a Scottish Highland games event. He shared the story of Constantine's new city and the 1100th anniversary of Rome's founding with a kilted gentleman who was there looking at the replica weapons. For the cost of a milk shake, this gent left with a 1600 year old souvenir of an event that literally changed the world. Who knows, perhaps this gent will develop an interest and begin collecting late Roman coins himself. These represent excellent value for the collecting and educational dollars spent on an enjoyable hobby with a multitude of historical and social science connections.

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Identifying Common Fourth Century Roman Bronze Coins
Reading the Emperor's Name and Titles
A Picture Gallery of Fourth Century Reverse Types
Camp Gate
Altar Inscribed VOTIS XX
Two Soldiers Standing With Two Standards
Two Soldiers Holding One Standard
Wreath With Legend Inside
Soldier Spearing a Fallen Horseman
VRBS ROMA Commemorative - Mother Wolf Suckling Twins Romulus and Remus
CONSTANTINOPOLIS Commemorative - Victory Standing on Prow of Ship
Two Victories Each Holding a Small Wreath
Two Victories Each Holding a Large Wreath on Centenionals of Decentius
Emperor Holding Labarum or Standard and Dragging Captive
Emperor Raising Kneeling Captive
Victory Advancing Left
A Key to Fourth Century Inscriptions
Some Scarcer Late Fourth Century and early Fifth Century Types

All New! More image galleries of late Roman bronze types.

Camp Gate
Altar with Votis, Victories with Wreath
FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Soldier Spearing Fallen Horseman
More FEL TEMP, including Barbarian and Hut tupes
Victory Advancing Left Holding Wreath
Emperor Holding Labarum and Dragging Captive