| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61375 | Auction date: 20 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 25257 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients Constantius I, as Caesar (AD 305-306). AR argenteus (29mm, 3.57 gm, 11h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 300. CONSTAN-TIVS CAES, laureate head of Constantius right / X•C-VI in two lines within wreath. RIC VI 16a (Carthage). A brilliant example of this scarce type, this coin features exquisite peachy hues that dance across the fields in the light. From The Bob Klein History of Money Collection. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3057 (7 September 2017), lot 30319. The numeral XCVI (96) on the reverse indicates the theoretical weight of the argenteus, 1/96th of a Roman pound. With the Roman pound (or libra, hence the abbreviation "LB" for pound) weighing 329.9 grams, this works out to 3.426 grams of silver, which is pretty close to the average weight for a late Roman argenteus. The argenteus was Diocletian's attempt to reintroduce a circulating currency in good silver after decades of runaway debasement and inflation had reduced Roman coins essentially to base metal tokens. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-constantius-i-as-caesar-ad-305-306-ar-argenteus-29mm-357-gm-11h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5/a/61375-25257.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61375-05202024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
