Constantius II, 337-361. Solidus (Gold, 21 mm, 4.46 g, 12 h), Thessalonica, 355-360. D N CONSTANTIVS MAX AVGVSTVS Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantius II to right.
Rev. GLORIA REI PVBLICAE / (Staurogram)TES(Staurogram) Roma, helmeted, seated facing on the left, and Constantinopolis, turreted, seated to left with her right foot on prow on the right, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX. Depeyrot -. RIC -. Cf. Heritage 3032 (2014), 23675 (for an issue of Julian II as Caesar with the same mint mark). Apparently unpublished with this mintmark. Light scratches and minor doubling on the obverse and minor edge marks
, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
This numismatically important coin confirms the existence of a fascinating mintmark - an abbreviation of the mint name flanked by two staurograms - previously known from only a single example: a solidus from Thessalonica struck for Julian II as Caesar (see Heritage 3032 [2014], 23675). Both coins undoubtedly belong to the same, evidently very limited, emission, which is distinguished by a unique Christian addition to the mintmark not found elsewhere in the Empire.
