Finding Speared Horsemen and Jacob’s Deniers in the Wild: A Cherry Picker’s Guide to Roman and Medieval Finds

Nothing compares to the rush of uncovering history with your own hands. As a lifelong roll hunter who’s turned grocery store change into museum-worthy finds, I can tell you that treasure awaits in the most unexpected places—circulation finds, estate sale bulk lots, even that jar of coins Grandma left in the attic. Today, let’s crack open two hidden gems that make collectors’ hearts race: the Constantius II AE3 “Speared Horseman” bronze and the Jacques of Lorraine denier. These aren’t just metal discs—they’re time machines whispering secrets from ancient Rome and medieval France.

The Thrill of the Hunt: Roll Hunting Basics

Forget sterile dealer cases—true numismatic magic happens when you’re elbow-deep in unsorted coins. Successful roll hunting isn’t luck; it’s forensic artistry. That darkened bronze scrap? Could be a Roman emperor. That chipped silver sliver? Might be a crusader’s lost wages. The key is training your eye to spot what others miss.

• Heft Matters: Authentic ancients have a distinctive weight—like holding history in your palm
• Edge Tales: Modern fakes often betray themselves with machine-perfect edges
• Patina Poetry: Seek natural oxidation patterns—mother nature’s authentication certificate
• Die Detective Work: Memorize mint marks like your ABCs

Our two featured coins prove why bulk lots are numismatic goldmines. Both frequently slip through dealer nets because their stories aren’t printed in English—but oh, what stories they tell!

Roman Numismatic Treasure: The Constantius II AE3 “Speared Horseman”

Struck during Rome’s death throes (AD 337-361), these AE3 bronzes circulated when gladiator dust still hung in the air. Their 17-23mm faces witnessed empire-shattering events—and survived to tell the tale. Forget “low-value bronze”—in mint condition with sharp strike details, these are miniature monuments to a collapsing world.

Design and Identification

The reverse isn’t just artwork—it’s imperial propaganda screaming “Rome still bites!” That cavalryman isn’t posing; he’s spearing barbarians at full gallop. Eastern mints like Antioch produced these by the wagonload, but each bears unique die fingerprints.

Pro Tip: Mistaking “speared” for “fallen” horseman reverses is the cardinal sin of late Roman collecting. One shows victory in motion; the other depicts defeat under hoof.

Spot the Real Deal:

• Obverse: Bearded Constantius II staring down usurpers, legend reading “CONSTANTIVS AVG”
• Reverse: Charging death dealer with GLORIA EXERCITVS (“Army’s Glory”) below
• Surface Soul: Chocolate-brown patina with occasional emerald highlights sings authenticity
• Weight Window: 2.5-4.0g—lighter means trouble

Historical Significance

Constantius II ruled when the empire bled from a thousand cuts—barbarians at the gates, Christians vs pagans, brothers warring over thrones. These bronzes paid legionaries guarding crumbling frontiers. Find one with strong eye appeal and you’ve got pocket change from the year Rome’s fate was sealed.

The “Speared Horseman” wasn’t just decoration—it was psychological warfare. Minted near Persian borders, it screamed Roman might to enemies eyeing weakened defenses. Yet within decades, those horsemen would retreat from history’s stage.

Medieval European Rarity: The Jacques of Lorraine Denier

Jumping twelve centuries forward, we land in Lorraine’s political knife-fight—caught between French kings and German emperors. Jacques’ deniers (Boudeau 1629) aren’t just silver; they’re survival tokens from a ruler walking a geopolitical tightrope.

Boudeau 1629: The Numismatic Reference

This Metz-minted beauty packs medieval drama into 18mm:

• Obverse: Jacques’ stern profile declaring “IACOBUS” like a territorial claim
• Reverse: Cross potentée flanked by fleurs-de-lis—ecclesiastical power meets French ambition
• Silver Soul: 80-90% fine with that soft, buttery luster only centuries create
• Date Dance: Struck 1239-1260—peak era of cathedral-building and dynastic scheming

That “M” mintmark isn’t just a letter—it’s Metz declaring its economic muscle in the Rhineland trade wars.

Historical Context

Jacques issued these deniers while playing France against the Holy Roman Empire—a dangerous game requiring financial firepower. Every coin was a political statement: the cross showing bishop allies, the fleurs-de-lis winking at Paris. Find one today and you hold silver that bought alliances, bribed border guards, and financed castles.

Metz wasn’t just a mint—it was a money factory funding Jacques’ survival. These deniers crossed borders faster than news, becoming the euros of medieval diplomacy.

Value Guide and Market Considerations

Constantius II AE3 “Speared Horseman”

Value hinges on three Ps: portrait sharpness, patina pedigree, and provenance potential.

• VF (Legible Legend): $25-50—affordable history
• EF (Crisp Crest): $75-150—cabinet-worthy
• AU (Near-Mint Majesty): $200-400—museum-grade eye appeal
• Rare Eastern Mints: Antioch/Cyzicus issues fetch 2x premiums

Smart Buy: Target coins with original earthen patinas—cleaned examples lose 50% collectibility.

Jacques of Lorraine Denier (Boudeau 1629)

Medieval silver lives by different rules—condition rarity trumps all.

• VF (Worn but Worthy): $75-150—starter specimens
• EF (Sharp Fleurs-de-lis): $200-400—serious collector bait
• AU (Blazing Luster): $500-1,200—showcase centerpieces
• Mint State: $1,500+—unicorns with provenance papers

Authentication Essential: Weigh every candidate—1.6g ±0.2g separates treasure from trash.

Cherry Picking Strategies

Turn bulk lots into profit centers with these battle-tested tactics:

Estate Sales and Bulk Lots

Goldmines for the prepared—I’ve bought $10 bags containing $1,000 coins

• First Light Advantage: Beat dealers to fresh arrivals
• Layer Scan: Spot telltale green patinas or medieval silver sheen in piles
• Edge Alerts: Jagged edges = potential clipped planchets (medieval minting errors)

Online Auctions

Digital dumpster diving done right:

• Lot Linguistics: “Unsearched bulk” often means “I searched but missed the good stuff”
• Photo Forensics: Zoom on one fuzzy coin in a lot shot—could be hiding a rare variety
• Weight Whispering: Always message sellers for exact group weights—reveals potential ancients

Local Coin Shows

Dealer dump tables are your playground:

• The Magic Phrase: “Got any uncleaned or problem coins?”—opens secret stashes
• Weight Watchers: Bring a pocket scale—spot heavy bronzes instantly
• Closing Time Cuts: Hour before shutdown = prime bargain negotiating

Authentication Red Flags

Separating history from hustles:

Roman Coins

• Sound Test: Fakes “clink”; real bronzes “thud”
• Detail Disasters: Muddy legends = cast reproduction
• Patina Panic: Neon greens scream chemical bath

Medieval Coins

• Weight Watchers: 1.6g or bust—even 0.2g over indicates trouble
• Mint Mark Mayhem: Compare “M” to verified Metz examples—font matters
• Edge Evidence: Modern tooling leaves telltale parallel lines

Conclusion: The Reward of Diligent Hunting

That Constantius II bronze in your hand? Last touched by a Roman baker buying bread as the empire crumbled. The Jacques denier? Possibly lost by a merchant fleeing Mongol scouts. This isn’t just collecting—it’s time travel with capital gains potential.

Great finds hide where others see junk. I’ve pulled a Constantine the Great follis from a dime roll and a Crusader bezant from a flea market tin. The secret? Knowing that every coin has two stories—what it is, and what adventure brought it to you.

So grab your loupe, charge your flashlight, and remember: somewhere in that next bulk lot, history whispers your name. Happy hunting!

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