Constantius II, 337-361. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.45 g, 6 h), Cyzicus, 353-355. FL IVL CONSTAN-TIVS PERP AVG Helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust of Constantius II facing, his head turned slightly to right, holding spear over his shoulder in his right hand and with a shield, decorated with a horseman galloping right and spearing a fallen foe, on his left shoulder. Rev. GLORIA REI PVBLICAE / SMK Roma, helmeted, seated facing on the left, and Constantinopolis, turreted, seated to left with her right foot on prow on the right, holding scepter in her left hand, supporting between them a shield inscribed VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX. Depeyrot 2/1 (1 example). RIC 39 var. (Roma holding spear). An extremely rare variety of a very rare issue. Minor die wear on the obverse and a few small die breaks on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.



Under Constantius II, the mint of Cyzicus focused primarily on the production of silvered bronze coins, while issues in gold and silver are exceedingly rare. This applies in particular to solidi with frontal portraits, which are rarer still than those bearing the traditional right-facing profile. The present specimen represents an extremely rare variety, unrecorded in RIC, distinguished by the absence of a spear in Roma’s hand on the reverse.