Valens Securitas Republicae mint town? [gelöst]

Hello, I would appreciate some help with determining the mint place of this nummus. 

Victory walking left and holding wreath. A star and H in the left field.  Exerque not readable. 
Siscia mint has a star and letter combo, yet I could not find it on Wildwinds.

Thanks in advance

Wildwinds doesn't show all types or variants, just those it can obtain an image of.

I'd like to suggest that the mint is Thessalonica (TES), and that the letter in the left field is actually meant to be A and not H. This would fit with RIC IX Thessalonica 18B or 27B, which have subtypes that include a star on A.

The Nummus Bible Database has a single example of star on A that you can compare with. It doesn't have any examples of star on H, although other letters are known which aren't described in RIC, such as V, M, P, or Z.

Wonder if I can see a vague A in the right field, in which case the left field might be star over M. Still Thessalonika mint, of course.

Thanks for the clarification Wacko. 

Bitteswell

Wonder if I can see a vague A in the right field, in which case the left field might be star over M. Still Thessalonika mint, of course.

For a moment I also thought I saw something on the right side but under magnification it look like patina.

The letter on the left side  looks like M, K or a symbol made of square and a half sphere on top of it .

Nice suggestion, Bitteswell. I also thought I saw an A in the right field, but wasn't sure. Maybe you're right and the letter in the left field is actually an M, just with worn angles so that it looks more like a H. 

Here's the example of the star on M from the Nummus Bible, which just so happens to have an A in the right field.

At this point, I'm inclined to lean towards Bitteswell's suggestion being correct.

wacko

Nice suggestion, Bitteswell. I also thought I saw an A in the right field, but wasn't sure. Maybe you're right and the letter in the left field is actually an M, just with worn angles so that it looks more like a H. 

 

Here's the example of the star on M from the Nummus Bible, which just so happens to have an A in the right field.

 

At this point, I'm inclined to lean towards Bitteswell's suggestion being correct.

Thanks for the input guys. I will go with the * M/A variant. 
one last question - I could not find this variant here.  Do I have to edit it myself and can I use the info from the Nummus Bible?

I think you would need to refer to a published source in order to make a change request to a page on Numista. I’m not sure if the Nummus Bible Database would qualify as a source. However, after reviewing the relevant OCRE pages, I think RIC can be that source. It’s just that RIC (and OCRE) aren’t very clear.

For starters, there are two separate types in RIC which cover your coin: IX Thessalonica 18B and IX Thessalonica 27B. Both types have the exact same descriptions and same subtypes, and the only discernible difference between them is that 18B covers the years 364-367, while 27B covers 367-375. This is confusing because I’m not sure how one can identify which of those periods a particular Valens coin comes from. (For reference, 367 is when Gratian was elevated to emperor, and 375 is when Valentinian I died. Valens didn’t die until 378, so following this logic there should theoretically be a third type 32C covering 375-378, but that doesn’t exist in RIC.)

The OCRE pages are also inconsistent when it comes to listing field marks and mint marks. The left field should be listed first, then the right field, then the exergue, but the listings given are often confusing. I now believe your coin would be covered under subtype xxx. The mint mark is described as M/[* on A]//TES or B or Δ, but this really should be [* on M]/A//TES or TESB or TESΔ

Numista has three pages for Valens SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE minted in Thessalonica, but I’m of the opinion there should be just one page covering all years 364-378, with all relevant subtypes listed. At the least, Numista page 451297 should probably be deleted since it only describes a single subtype. That subtype should really be listed under the main pages for RIC types 18B and 27B.

N#97967
N#170054

N#451297

wacko

I think you would need to refer to a published source in order to make a change request to a page on Numista. I’m not sure if the Nummus Bible Database would qualify as a source. However, after reviewing the relevant OCRE pages, I think RIC can be that source. It’s just that RIC (and OCRE) aren’t very clear.

For starters, there are two separate types in RIC which cover your coin: IX Thessalonica 18B and IX Thessalonica 27B. Both types have the exact same descriptions and same subtypes, and the only discernible difference between them is that 18B covers the years 364-367, while 27B covers 367-375. This is confusing because I’m not sure how one can identify which of those periods a particular Valens coin comes from. (For reference, 367 is when Gratian was elevated to emperor, and 375 is when Valentinian I died. Valens didn’t die until 378, so following this logic there should theoretically be a third type 32C covering 375-378, but that doesn’t exist in RIC.)

 

The OCRE pages are also inconsistent when it comes to listing field marks and mint marks. The left field should be listed first, then the right field, then the exergue, but the listings given are often confusing. I now believe your coin would be covered under subtype xxx. The mint mark is described as M/[* on A]//TES or B or Δ, but this really should be [* on M]/A//TES or TESB or TESΔ

Numista has three pages for Valens SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE minted in Thessalonica, but I’m of the opinion there should be just one page covering all years 364-378, with all relevant subtypes listed. At the least, Numista page 451297 should probably be deleted since it only describes a single subtype. That subtype should really be listed under the main pages for RIC types 18B and 27B.

N#97967
N#170054

N#451297

I checked again at Nummus Bible and they do refer to RIC 18,27,32 sigle xxx. 
Otherwise I agree with you that one page listing all the Thessalonians variants will be perfect. 
Thank again for the help. I will close the thread now.

Hello. If you wish, I can add your coin to the database nummus bible . It is neither perfect nor complete, but I hope it is useful.

Sorry for my poor english

🙂

It’s definitely useful to have a corpus of examples to refer to, especially for variants. One drawback is that the site is only in French. Not a problem for me since I read French well enough, but it may be less accessible to those who only speak English. Though some web browsers now offer auto-translation of pages, which would be a modern solution to that problem.

I have a nummus or two I could add, once I research them. 😁

elagabale2000

Hello. If you wish, I can add your coin to the database nummus bible . It is neither perfect nor complete, but I hope it is useful.

 

Sorry for my poor english

 

🙂

Ok , the more the better. Just tell me if I have to do something. I am also not  a native  speaker. it’s important that we understand each other.