The reverse legend FEL TEMP REPARATIO is constantly recurring on ancient Roman silver and brass coins from the time of Constans and Constantius II to that of Gratian (AD 337 to AD 375). In a short article published in Numismatic Chronicle, 1933, titled ''Fel Temp Reparatio''. Harold Mattingly interprets these words as being Felix or Felicium, Temporum Reperatio, which '' seems to fit in with the Roman cry of good luck''. The words refer to an anniversary or a ''golden age'' of 348 AD as a ''happy renewal of times.''
These coins were introduced as part of the coinage reform of 348 AD by Constantius II and Constans. The earliest FEL TEMP REPARATIO coins were divided into three denominations with Falling Horseman and the Galleys being the largest. The middle denomination was almost the same diameter as the largest but contained less silver and was distinguished by left facing busts on their obverses. These commonly show the reverse type of a soldier leading a barbarian from a hut or the emperor with two captives. The third denomination was smaller and had a design showing a Phoenix. Later, the two smaller denominations were discontinued, and the Falling Horseman shrank in a series of standard revisions to a size smaller than the smallest ''Phoenix''. The popularly used size scales are AE1 (over 25mm), AE2 (21-25mm), AE3 (17-21mm) and AE4 (under 17 mm). The earliest of such coins are AE2, while the last issues were between AE3 and AE4.
The Falling Horseman. A Roman soldier is shown spearing a horseman. Varieties show the horseman in different positions, but in all he is dying. Of all Roman coins showing a battle scene, this series is unusual in showing the moment of death. The horsemen who died on these coins were from different tribes and countries. Some can be identified by their attire, hair and beards. This study though is still in progress by many.
During this period, only two sons of Constantine the Great survived and had divided the Empire under an uneasy truce. Mints issued more coins for the brother who controlled that region, but some coins were struck at all the mints. These coins were a favourite type for the next decade. Civil war involving the usurper Magnentius, and the brothers resulted in the death of Constans in 350 AD. Magnentius issued a small number of Falling Horsemen but switched to his own reverses. Falling Horsemen were issued by Constantius Gallus and Julian also.
Late Roman Bronze Coinage. Four design groups of the Falling Horsemen are Kneeling, Sitting, Reaching and Clutching.
Kneeling : Horseman kneeling on ground before horse
Sitting: Horseman sitting on ground before horse.
Reaching: Horseman on the horse turning and reaching back towards the soldier
However, all the four designs show variations within them too. The thirteen years of issue of these coins saw many changes in size and weight too.
The Galley. Whereas Constantius II favoured the Falling Horseman, Constans used the Galley steered by Victory. The scene probably shows Constans' crossing to Britain in 342 AD. The emperor is shown standing in the galley holding either a small figure of Victory or a Phoenix on a globe. Not many variations are noticed in these.
The Barbarian and the Hut. The middle denominations of the FEL TEMP REPARATIO group was distinguished by the use of left facing bust portraits holding a globe in the hand. These AE2 coins were only slightly smaller than the largest denomination but contained less silver and were valued lesser than the large Galley and Fallen Horseman coins. Their reverse shows a soldier leading a small barbarian from a hut located under a tree. These coins were issued by 13 different mints, and each used a different type of tree (branch, shrub or plant). Like the Galley type, the Huts were discontinued on the death of Constans.
Emperor and the Two Captives. The middle denomination type favoured by Constantius II shows the emperor with two captives. There are minor variations, but not to the degree as seen on the Huts coins.
The Phoenix. The smallest denomination of the FEL TEMP REPARATIO series, weighing half as much as the large AE2 coins and containing only a trace of silver. Obverse were right facing busts of either Constantius II or Constans but the type was discontinued before the first issues of the other rulers discussed above. These coins were issued by 10 mints in two major varieties. Six mints show the phoenix standing on a globe while five mints used a pile of stones (pyre). Thessalonica issued coins of both varieties.
The current explanation. A lot of research over the years has been undertaken to understand the significance of the reverse designs on the coins depicted above. Some plausible explanations could be found in the religious and political life during the mid 4th century AD. The falling horseman and captives were coupled to Constantius II, the ship and hut scenes were predominantly paired with Constans. The scenes showing an Infantryman defeating a horseman has appeared very rarely. The falling horseman had typical Sassanid attributes, like a pointy beard curved upwards and wide trousers, and was often depicted wearing a Phrygian cap. This is probably depicting the capture of the Sassanid crown prince in a battle near Singara in 344 AD between the Romans and the Sassanid.
The hut scene linked to the western part of the empire, represented a peaceful settlement action by Constans, that of Franks in Toxandria in the 340s AD. The emperor's valorous crossing of the English Canal mid-winter explains the ship scene. The legend ''BONONIA OCEANEN(SIS), a reference to Boulogne-sur-Mer, the place of Constans departure. or merely depicting the emperor steering the State to a better future. The Phoenix had a long history in Imperial Rome and represented eternity of the emperor.
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