Crude legends reduced to lines and circles, laureate helmeted and cuirassed bust right / Crude legends and mintmark reduced to lines and circles, two Victories standing facing, resting inscribed shield on altar. 18mm, 2.56 grams. Imitating mint of Siscia. SKU X3676-48607
Lovely dark green and brown patina.
These fairly common barbarous imitations of Siscian VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP folli of Constantine (and, to a much lesser extend, of his family) were minted around the border of the Roman Empire in the middle Danube area (modern day south-western Slovakia, southern Moravia and lower Austria north of the Danube). The area was occupied by Rugii, Suevi and other Goths-related people at the time, who were well-familiar with the Roman culture. A large influx of this coinage could have been brought in during the campaigns of Crispus in the area in 318-320. The coinage was widely imitated for a short period (probably limited to the late 310's-early 320's), resulting in a fascinating group of barbarized coins, showing a unique and misinterpreted bust and Victories on the reverse.