Helvetica's Fel Temps

All references refer to RIC VIII.
Before we begin:

Use these pictures in connection with the RIC lists on my RIC lists pagesto help identify your coin.

There are over 2,200 known varieties of this type of coin.....
I have an awful long way to go to collect them all !

I would be very happy to see pictures of your horsemen coins if they differ from the description given in RIC. If you can 100% identify the mint of your coin(s) please send me a picture of the coin as well as the RIC reference if you have it to

Last but not least, many thanks to those kind souls who have donated or swapped unwanted and/or homeless Fel Temps to the collection!: Jon LaFalce, Joe Engebretson and Bryan Fritch and of course Big George.

Please scroll down for headwear and hairstyles descriptions and examples.

This way to my collection:. My Fel Temps of ...

..Alexandria
..Amiens
..Antioch
..Aquileia
..Arles
..Constantinople
..Cyzicus
..Heraclea
..Lyons
..Nicomedia
..Rome
..Sirmium
..Siscia
..Thessalonica
..Trier
Fel Temps misstrikes, double-strikes, mules, engraver's errors etc.

..Barbarics

Horseman types:: New studies show that there are more horseman types than RIC describes. It is also logical that the things described in RIC as "diadem ties" (usually seen as two or more long thin things flying out from behind the horseman's head) are not diadem ties, but more likely hair braids, worn by Germanic and other tribal cavalry. Additional types not described in RIC are horseman whose hair is straight up (a bit punkish), others with hair gathered up to a small top knot, horsemen wearing Scythian short-tipped, bowl-shaped and other helmets.
Apparently the mints were not required to depict any one type of horseman. I have just finished including all my horsemen types into the RIC list and here as well. (Many thanks to Vic Failmezger and Dr. Simon James for their help and ideas)

Headwear type	Description
Phrygian helmet	A very narrow brim, often no brim at all. Most important feature is the long tip with "droopy" end. This tip usually stretches forwards to a point in line with the forehead. This is the headwear which RIC describes as a "pointed cap".
Scythian short-tipped helmet	No brim, a very short tip at the top rear of the head. Sometimes you can see helmet ties or braids behind the rider's head
Scythian bowl-shaped helmet	No point at all and evenly round on top, the lower rim around the head is often visible
Wide-brimmed helmet.	Can be short-tipped, slightly pointed or bowl-shaped
Brimmed helmet	Has a visible brim but not as wide as the one above. The head section is similar to the bowl-shaped helmet
Celtic or "Phrygian Nasal" helmet	Has a very small pointed tip. The Celtic or Phrygian nasal (called thus because of the protection above the nose) is the closest I can get to it.
Bearded, hair in braids	Probably meant to represent Germanic or Celtic tribal cavalry. This type is usually seen on larger Antioch coins.
No beard, hair in braids	As above but rider has no beard
Bare-headed, with or without beard	No helmet is visible. Hair can be bunched behind or on top of the head. Can also be in the form of a small topknot on the top of the head. This was also a hairstyle used by Germanic barbarians
Hair straight up	This style is most often seen on Fel Temps from Nicomedia and Aquileia