Constantine I, 307/310-337. Follis (Bronze, 22 mm, 2.88 g, 6 h), Rome, 314. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine I to right.
Rev. MARTI P-ACIFERO / R - F / R✱Q Mars advancing to left, holding olive branch in his right hand and spear and shield in his left. RIC -. https://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/7rom-18.html (
this coin, as no. 2, still uncleaned). Of the highest rarity, apparently the second known example. Minor traces of corrosion
, otherwise, very fine.
From the collection of Dr. L. Ramskold, privately acquired on eBay in October 2007.
This is piece is one of the great rarities in the Ramskold collection, as it has a previously unrecorded reverse legend for Constantine I, namely 'MARTI PACIFERO'. The reverse as a whole is reminiscent of a follis from 307 struck for Constantine I (RIC VI 94 [Londinium]) with the legend 'MARTI PACIF' and similar imagery, a coin type copied by Maxentius in Rome in 308-310 (RIC VI 228 and 268).
