VLPP - Hypothesis

    As the coin has been studied in person by two experts and accepted as an ancient numismatic article, the next task involves the burden of proof to determine why it was made.  Below are a few hypotheses and topics I will research.  If more are presented to me by historians, researcher or other collectors, I would be more than happy to add them to the list and research them and their comments as well.

Presentation piece:

Could this coin have been made as some sort of a presentation piece?  Doubtful, as presentation pieces are usually large bronzes, or made of gold or silver.

Mint pattern:

We really don't know much about what happened inside ancient mints, so the process of how they determined new coins is still very much a mystery.  Perhaps this coin is an example of a pattern coin, much like the US 1856 Flying Eagle Cent?

Trial strike for proposed gold issue:

Could this piece be a bronze pattern for some gold coins proposed, but never issued?  Perhaps the gold examples are still waiting to be found?

Fantasy piece:

Was this coin made by a mint celator during off hours as a joke or political statement on the emperor?  The coin is accepted as ancient, but is it an official mint issue?

Commemorative:

Perhaps the coin was created for a celebration, such as the Festival of Isis coinage, still minted during this time?  Constantine was in the region during this period.  Was there something going on to link the portrait to an event?

Armor type:

Why does this coin display a portrait with a cuirass and paludamentum when all of the attested examples in RIC for Constantine I only list cuirassed bust types?

PERP vs. PERT legend:

The obverse legend has never been encountered until now.  Why and what does it really mean?