| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 555 | Auction date: 7 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 658 Price realized: 550 USD (Approx. 513 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Hanniballianus. Rex Regum, AD 335-337. Æ Follis (15mm, 1.52 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, uncertain officina. Struck AD 336-337. FL ANNIBALIANO REGI, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / SE CVRITAS PVPLICA, Euphrates reclining right, leaning on scepter, urn at side; reed in background; CONS[...]. RIC VII 146 var. (officina); cf. LRBC 1035 (for type). Dark green-brown and earthen patina, cleaning scratches, deposits. Good VF. Very rare. This Hanniballianus reverse die appears to be formerly unknown. A search of a number of plates and auction records did not produce an example matching this reverse which features great detail in the face of Euphrates and a reed with tendrils reaching far out towards the lettering on the reverse. One perplexing feature of the coin concerns the letter to the right of the CONS mint mark in the exergue. This would not normally be remarkable as it simply makes the coin an example of RIC 146 which features officina letters. However, the officina letter here is unclear. This series is almost exclusively found in the 6th officina (S). However, there have been reports of a 1st officina (A) example. The bronze emission that this series belongs to does not follow a pattern for the officinae among the rulers, making it possible for new officinae to be discovered. The letter here, which somewhat resembles a delta (Δ - 4th officina) remains unclear. But it does not appear to be a S as is usually found. Additionally, it does not appear to match the letter style of this engraver's 'A,' which can be seen twice in the reverse legend. The inability to match the reverse die makes the conclusively determining the officina letter difficult at this time. Once another example of this reverse die is found, knowing the true officina letter will be possible. Until then, potential buyers can be interested by the prospect of the officina letter being different from the normally found S, but with the caveat that no definite determination is being made here at this time. Regardless of the ultimate officina letter, RIC 146 is very rare and features the far rarer obverse legend variety for Hanniballianus. Estimate: 100 USD |  |
