Constantine I, 307/310-337. Follis (Bronze, 19 mm, 3.41 g, 12 h), brockage mint error, Rome, 317-318. Incuse of reverse. Rev. SOLI INV-I-CTO COMITI / R S Sol, nude but for chlamys, standing front, head to left, raising his right hand in salute and holding globe in his left; in field to left, wreath. RIC 97. An exceptionally sharp and attractive reverse brockage. Minor die break, otherwise, extremely fine.


The 'SOLI INVICTO COMITI' reverse was only used for Constantine, so the coin can be identified as RIC 97. Brockages of the reverse are much rarer than of the obverse. They occurred if a newly struck coin was left in the anvil die and a blank flan was positioned on top of it, then struck with the hammer die, which held the reverse. The striking itself hardened the flan, explaining why the image on the struck coin could be impressed into the next coin.