V

Vows for year 5 (VOT V) on Roman coins
of Constantine II, Crispus, and Licinius II,
issued c. 320-321.
Also, related vota coins from Thessalonica

Constantine II (317-337-340). AE3. 18 mm.
CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C (Constantine Junior, Noble Caesar)
The reverse legend is plural:
VOT/V in wreath. CAESARVM NOSTRORVM ("our Caesars") around.
ASIS* in exergue for Siscia
RIC VII Siscia 163 struck "320-321".

Until the fourth century vows on coins had been for ten or twenty years. After a scarce issue for Maxentius with "QQ" for "quinquenalia," the first common issues to mention five years were for Crispus and Constantine II, sons of Constantine, and Licinius II, son of Licinius, all promoted to Caesar in 317. The celebration of their fifth anniversary of accession, the quinquennalia, lead to common VOT V coins which refer to vows to be fulfilled in 321, but the coins were issued in advance. "VOT V" coins are common for all three Caesars, but are more common for the sons of Constantine. The most common variety is illustrated above. Then the other types are illustrated and followed by additional examples for other rulers.

1) VOT V in wreath, legend around (above)
Others types include
2) VOT V, no wreath, legend around, and
3) VO TIS V, no wreath, legend around (some varients have the legend break VOT/IS/V)
4) VOT V/MVLT X•/CAESS/TS•E• (only from Thessaloncia)
and VOT XX•/MVLT/•XXX•/TS•E• (on the same issue from Thessalonica for Constantine and Licinius)

Constantine II, AE3, 20 mm.
VOT V, no wreath,
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around
TSBVI in exergue

RIC VII Thessalonica 95 "320"
Failmezger 301 (unlisted for Constantine II)

Constantine II, AE3, 20 mm.
VO
TIS
V, no wreath,
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around
QA in exergue

Here is similar type from Siscia with a different legend break (VOT/IS instead of VO/TIS) for Licinius II and for Constantine II:

Licinius II, 317-324
VOT
IS
•V• , no wreath,
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around
• ASIS• in exergue
RIC VII Siscia 143 "r3 [the only variety for Licinius II], 320"
Failmeger 302

Constantine II, 317-337-340
VOT
IS
•V• , no wreath,
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around
• ESIS• in exergue
RIC VII Siscia 144 "r2 [the only variety for Constantine II], 320" plate 13.
Failmeger 302

in wreath

RIC VII Thessalonica 45 "r1 [only one officina, but other obverse legends], 320"
Struck 318-319

Additional examples of "VOT V" which was issued for Crispus, Constantine II, and Licinius II:

Crispus
20 mm.
VOT/V in wreath. DOMINORVM NOSTRORVM CAESS ("our lords Caesars") around.
ST in exergue

RIC Ticinum 150 "r4 [but many varieties], 320-321".

Constantine II
19 mm. 3.22 grams.

VOT/V in wreath.
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM ("our Caesars") around.
TSBVI in exergue

Ancient imitation, mixing parts of coins of Constantine
and Constantine II. Naerly full size.
18-17 mm. 2.84 grams.
Obverse legend possibly CONSAN - INS AVG blundered
Reverse: possibly DN CONST .... AVG around wreath with
VOT/V
<letter>SIS mintmark of Siscia

Prototype RIC Siscia 148 for the obverse legend and the reverse legend around of Constantine, with RIC Siscia 156 for the "VOT V" for Constantine II from the same issue of "320".
Struck 320 or later.

Additional Examples of VOTIS V:

Crispus
VO/TIS/V
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM ("our Caesars") around.
No wreath.
•T•A• in exergue

RIC VII Arles 210 "r4 [this officina only], 320-321"

Arles issued 20-year pieces for Constantine and Licinius in the same issue. See the page on vota for X and XX.

Crispus, 317-326
19 mm.
VOT•V
MVLT•X
CAESS
TS•E

RIC Thessalonica 38.
Struck 318-319.

Licinius II
18 mm.
VOT V
MVLT X•
CAESS
TS•E• in wreath

RIC Thessalonica 42 "r4 [one other officina, r5], 318-320"
Failmezger

The type with vows for 5 years at Thessalonica was issued with a similar type with vows for 20 years for Constantine and Licinius.

[Repeated from the main page and the page of vows for year 20]

Constantine, 307-337
Issued 318-319
VOT XX
MVLT
•XXX•
TS•Γ•

RIC Thessalonica 28Γ "r3 [but several similar varieties], 318-319"

No one claims that all the RIC dates are right, but most are close. This combination of XX and XXX suggests vows for 20 soluta and 30 suscepta, which suggests a date of 325 (306+19). Is RIC's date wrong or was the type issued in advance of the XX-year festival, or possibly without corresponding to a votive festival?

Note for collectors: A great deal remains unknown or uncertain about ancient coins. Don't expect that every question than can be asked has an answer (or ever will). But, that's part of the fun. It must be sad to collect a series where everything is known and there is no room for speculation.

Licinius, 308-324
19 mm. 2.69 grams.
Issued 318-319
VOT XX
MVLT
•XXX•
TS•A•

RIC VII Thessalonica 33, "S, 318-319"

Imitation of a Constantine II obverse with the reverse of Constantine
18-17 mm. 2.23 grams.
Bust left with obverse legend blundered and
reading outwards from 4:30 counterclockwise.
It seems to have letters for
CONSTA-NT NOB CAES

VO XX ("T" missing)
MVLT (blundered)
XXX (all oriented more like crosses)
•TS•Γ