The Roman Mint in London AD 296-325

LONDON MINT AD 296-325

Acknowledgements:

This has been compiled using
Roman Imperial Coinage Volume VI by C.H.V.Sutherland (1967)
and Roman Imperial Coinage Volume VII by Patrick M. Bruun (1966),
both published by Spink & Sons, London.

These standard reference works should be consulted for a full listing of the obverse and reverse types used, and background information on London and other Imperial mints during the period.

Although based on the two volumes of RIC (above), the following has been
updated in accordance with two recent works

“The London Mint of Constantius and Constantine” by Cloke & Toone
“The Roman Mint of London” by Ken Elks

All coins are bronze nummi (which RIC refers to as “folles”) of a gradually reducing standard, originally with a silver wash, commencing AD 296 at circa 10g in weight and 28mm in diameter, down to 3.4g and a diameter of 20mm after AD 313.

RIC Ref.

Mintmark

Reverse

Emperor

THE FIRST TETRARCHY

Circa AD 296 - weight circa 10g


Vol. VI, 1-5	_____ LON	GENIO POPVLI ROMANI	Diocletian Augustus Maximian Augustus Constantius I Caesar Galerius Caesar

Circa AD 297 -305 - weight circa 10g

London mint nummi of Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius and Galerius

Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI (no mint mark)

Vol. VI,
6-39

(none)

GENIO POPVLI ROMANI

Diocletian Augustus
Maximian Augustus
Constantius I Caesar
Galerius Caesar

THE SECOND TETRARCHY

May AD 305-306 - weight circa 10.5 gm

A coin with a bird on it

Description automatically generated with low confidence A picture containing object, coin, old

Description automatically generated A coin with a face on it

Description automatically generated with low confidence A close-up of the front and the back of a coin

Description automatically generated

Constantius I and Galerius (Augusti) Severus II and Maximinus II (Caesars)

A coin with a person's face on it

Description automatically generated with low confidence A coin with a bird on it

Description automatically generated with low confidence
Abdication issue
Diocletian and Maximian
Reverse: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG

Vol. VI,
41-77

(none)

GENIO POPVLI ROMANI

PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG

Constantius I Augustus
Galerius Augustus
Severus II Caesar
Maximinus II Caesar

Diocletian Senior Augustus
Maximian Senior Augustus

THE THIRD TETRARCHY

July AD 306 - weight circa 10 gm

Constantine I (Caesar), large (unreduced) nummus, AD 306

Vol. VI,
40, 46, 52C

66, 67b,
71-73

(none)

GENIO POPVLI ROMANI

Severus II Augustus

Constantine I Caesar

AD 307 –310

These coins reintroduced mintmarks, commencing here with PLN, and were subjected to a series of weight reductions, first to 9.0g then, in progressive steps, down to 4.5g by the end of AD 307 and maintained at that weight standard until AD 313 in the issues that followed.

The weight ranges for each reduction overlap and makes it impossible to attribute most of the coins to a particular standard. Although these were accompanied by the use of smaller flans, there is no obvious correlation between the weight and the flan size (i.e. heavy coins have been noted on small flans, light coins on large flans).

The coins are mostly marked PLN but there were some unmarked coins that were listed in error as an intermediate issue but were minted later than originally shown.

The coins that are definitely later in this issue are those where Constantine is Augustus from ca. December AD 307 onwards

Galerius (Augustus), Maximian (Senior Augustus), Maximinus II & Constantine (Caesars) Divus Constantius Diocletian As Senior Augustus Rev: MEMORIA FELIX Rev: QVIES AVGG
Vol. VI, 82-100	_____ PLN		GENIO POP ROM QVIES AVGG HERCVLI CONSERVATORI ADVENTVS AVGG MARTI PACIF MARS VICTOR MARTI PATRI CONSERVATORI MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI MARTI PATR PROPVG PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS ROMAE AETER VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN			Galerius Augustus Constantine I Caesar Maximinus II Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Diocletian PFS Augustus Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar Constantine I Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar Constantine I Caesar Maximian PFS Augustus Constantine I Caesar
Constantine I as Augustus
Vol. VI, 101-115		_____ PLN			GENIO POP ROM COMITI AVGG NN MARTI CONSERVATORI MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI MARTI PATRI PROPVG PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS MEMORIA FELIX			Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Divo Constantius I
*Unmarked nummi* of Maximian and Galerius they were part of the PLN series**
Vol. VI, 78-81		(none)		GENIO POP ROM QVIES AVGG			Galerius Augustus Constantine I Caesar Maximinus II Maximian PFS Augustus Diocletian PFS Augustus

AD 310-312 - reduced weight standard ca. 4.5g

Constantine I - Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI
Vol.VI, 116-127	T F PLN	GENIO POP ROM COMITI AVGG NN MARTI CONSERVATORI SOLI INVICTO COMITI	Maximinus II Augustus Licinius I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus
Vol.VI, 128-132	* * T F PLN	GENIO POP ROM COMITI AVGG NN SOLI INVICTO COMITI	Constantine I Augustus Maximinus II Augustus Licinius I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus
-	(none)	MARTI CONSERVATORI (helmeted bust) SOLI INVICTO COMITI (radiate bust)	Constantine I Constantine I

AD 311-312 - reduced weight standard ca. 4.5 g

A coin with a person's face on it

Description automatically generated with low confidence
A close-up of a coin

Description automatically generated

Constantine I, helmeted obverse busts

Rev: ADVENTVS AVG, CONCORD MILIT, COMITI AVGG NN

Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTTVTIS, SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Maximinus II & Licinius I

Rev: GENIO POP ROM and COMITI AVGGG

Vol.VI,
133-242

*
PLN

GENIO POP ROM

COMITI AVGGG

COMITI AVGG NN

ADVENTVS AVG
ADVENTVS AVG N
ADVENTVS AVGG NN
CONCORD MILIT(VM)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS (two types)
SOLI INVICTO COMITI (two types)
SPES REIPVBL(ICAE)

Constantine I Augustus
Maximinus II Augustus
Licinius I Augustus

Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

Constantine I Licinius I Rev: FELICITAS AVGG NN, GENIO POP ROM, PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS Rev: ROMAE RESTITVTAE, SECVRITAS AVGG, SOLI INVICTO COMITI
RIC	* PLN	COMITI AAVVGG MARTI CONSERVATORI SECVRITAS AVGG SECVRITAS AVGG NN COMITI AVGG NN CONCORDIA MILITVM FELICITAS AVGG FELICITAS AVGG NN P•M•TR•P•COS•II•P•P• PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS ROMAE AETER AVGG ROMAE RESTITVTAE SOLI INVICTO COMITI	Constantine I Augustus Maximinus II Augustus Licinius I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Licinius I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Licinius I Augustus Maximinus II Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus
RIC	(none)	COMITI AVGG NN GENIO POP ROM MARTI CONSERVATORI PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS SOLI INVICTO COMITI	Constantine I Augustus Licinius I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus Constantine I Augustus

AD 313 - reduced weight standard 3.38g

This weight reduction is not recorded in RIC VI.

Constantine I –

Rev: MARTI CONSERVATORI, SOLI INVICTO COMITI\

Vol.VI,
243-287

*
PLN

GENIO POP ROM

MARTI CONSERVATORI
SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Licinius I Augustus

Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

All the following coins were minted at the reduced weight standard of ca. 3.38g

The sequence of the next seven issues is different to that in RIC VII and also Cloke & Toone. There are sound reasons for the amended sequence shown here. That it has ended up with different mint signatures, combined with four issues that have the letters S F in the field, followed by two with S P and finally one with T F, seems to add support to this proposal, but was not the underlying reason for suggesting it.

Late AD 313-314

Left: Licinius I - Rev: GENIO POP ROM
Right: Constantine I - Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Vol.VII,
1-20

S F
PLN

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

ADVENTVS AVG N
MARTI CONSERVATORI

Licinius I Augustus

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

AD 314-317

Licinius I - Rev: GENIO POP ROM

Vol. VII,
21-29

S F
MLL

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

ADVENTVS AVG N
MARTI CONSERVATORI
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

Vol. VII,
36-49

S F
MLN

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

Vol. VII,
30-35

S F
MSL

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

AD 315-316

Left: Constantine I - Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI
Right: Constantine I - Rev: GENIO POP ROM

Vol. VII,
64-84

S P
MSL

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

Vol. VII,
50-63

S P
MLN

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

AD 316-317

Licinius I - Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Vol. VII,
85-100

T F
PLN

GENIO POP ROM

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Licinius I Augustus
Constantine I Augustus

AD 317

Crispus - Rev: CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE

Vol. VII,
101-118

S P
PLN

PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS

CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Constantine I Augustus

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

Vol. VII,
119-123

S
+ P
PLN

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 318

Crispus - Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Vol. VII,
124-148

È
PLN

CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE

PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

Constantine I - Rev: SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Vol. VII,
149-153

È *
PLN

SOLI INVICTO COMITI

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 319-320

Constantine I - Rev: VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP

Vol. VII,
154-182

_____
PLN

VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP
(Three different altar adornments)

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 320-321

Constantine I - Rev: VIRTVS EXERCIT

Vol. VII,
183-190

_____
PLON

VIRTVS EXERCIT

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

Vol. VII,
191-198

_____
PLN

VIRTVS EXERCIT

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 321

Left: Crispus - Rev: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
Right: Constantine II

Vol. VII,
199-219

P A
PLN

BEATA TRANQVILLITAS

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 321-322

Crispus - Rev: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS

Vol. VII,
220-237

_____
PLON

BEATA TRANQVILLITAS

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 322-323

Left: Constantine I - Rev: BEAT TRANQLITAS
Right: Constantine II - Rev: BEAT TRANQLITAS

Right: Crispus - Rev: BEAT TRANQLITAS

Vol. VII,
261-288

_____
PLON

BEAT TRANQLITAS

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

Vol. VII,
238-260

F B
PLON

BEAT TRANQLITAS

Constantine I Augustus
Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 323-324

Left: Constantine I - Rev: SARMATIA DEVICTA
Right: Crispus - Rev: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM VOT X

Vol. VII,
289-292

______
PLONÈ

SARMATIA DEVICTA

CAESARVM NOSTRORVM VOT X

Constantine I Augustus

Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar

AD 324-325

Constantine I - Rev: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG

Vol. VII,
293-300

_____
PLON

PROVIDENTIAE AVGG

PROVIDENTIAE CAESS

SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE

SALVS REIPVBLICAE

Constantine I Augustus

Crispus Caesar
Constantine II Caesar
Constantius II Caesar

Helena Augusta

Fausta Augusta

London mint obverse & reverse types and legends