Ancient coins. Imitations from the time of Constantine.

I had three long spells in England when I was able to go to many coin shows ("Fairs") and select the best of local finds. Thousands of tiny, illegible, and corroded imitations ancient imitations have been found in England. Spend enough hours pouring over bags of mostly terrible coins and you might find a few of interest. I did! 

Detail correct
See second image below.

Color correct

Constantine
"Two Victories"
18 mm. 2.77 grams.
Helmeted bust left with legend mostly of I's:  ... IIIIII
ex Imperial Coins website, Oct. 3. 2002. 
[$36 SOLD]
 

VRBS ROMA
Small. 13 mm. 1.04 grams.
Ex Dan Clark Ancient Coins, Sept. 11, 1987.
Nicely centered
PLC for Lugdunum
[$12]
 

Constantine
"Two Victories"
18 mm. 3.60 grams.
Malloy auction LXIV (2002) lot 668. It cost me $50 then.
With the ticket saying "Alemanni-Franks...... 150-"
Now [$65]


 

Constantine
"Two Victories"H
17-16 mm. 2.04 grams.
Helmeted bust left
Weak overall, especially the reverse. 
ex Vecchi at his office in London, Jan. 29, 1996. My cost $23. Too much!
Here [$19]



 

Helena?
Victory as on CONSTANTINOPOLIS
Really tiny! 9 mm. 0.71 grams.
Bought at the Midlands Coin Fair, from Andrew Dyke, March 10, 1996. 
I have looked through thousands of terrible imitations at English coins shows and selected only a few of the most interesting. Not many collectors cared or had a patience to spend hours poruing over junk to find a few legible coins. But, in every thousand, there would be something interesting but easy to overlook.
Extremely rare to find an imitation like this with any female opposite Victory.
Not very nice in condition and awfully tiny, but highly remarkable combination. 
I bet you will never see another one much like it.  [$29]

Constantine
Helmeted bust right
type of VIRTVS EXERCITI
two capitives, banner with VOT/XX
but legend very garbled
SIS for Siscia
Bought Jan. 29, 1996 at Vecchi's in London for $33.
It seemed expensive at the time, but I pay attention and this type is rarely imitated (if this is not the only one).
[$45]
 

VRBS ROMA, but wrong in so many ways!
12 mm. 1.02 grams.
Obverse retrograde (look at "ROMA" backwards and the bust right)
Type of GLORIA EXERCITVS with two soldiers and one standard.
(Not a reverse for this type.)
Bought at the Cumberland Coin Fair in London, March 2, from Alan Cherry.
Alan Cherry had already noted the interest of this one, so I had to pay individually for it. (So will you. It is special.)
[$29 SOLD]
 

Crispus?
18 mm. 2.31 grams.
Type of 
VOT
XX
in wreatth with DOMINORVM ... around
Mintmark blundered.
Ex. Harlan Berk, Philadelphia ANA, August 9, 2000, at $25 He said, "possibly from Slovakia" 
Nice bold nonsense lettering.  Not quite as glossy as the photo makes it (too bright light) [$45]
 

Mule
VRBS ROMA
Victory as on CONSTANTINOPOLIS
14-13 mm. 1.29 grams.
Ex Brian Bucklin (BargainBin ancients) May 2, 2010. 
English green patina. This is not an official mule, rather an imitation. Imitations don't have to
follow the official rules. [$17 SOLD]

 

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