Our two examples of Vota issues can hardly enable all students to read their coins but we have to draw the line somewhere. The two selected are not particularly common or more likely to match the Vota issue you might have.
Left: Crispus Caesar, 321-324 AD AE3(bronze 17-20mm)
This coin of the eldest son of Constantine I is very representative of most Vota issues. Issued in the later years of his life, it shows that he has assumed the vows for a ten year period. The same mint had earlier issued coins for Crispus reading VOT V which would cease to be appropriate when the Caesar passed his 5th anniversary of the title awarded him in 317 AD. In general, dated issues might be expected to anticipate the actual completion of a period so it would be reasonable to expect such an advance when he started his fifth year of rule. Since he died in 326 AD, Crispus is not shown with a numeral over ten.
The Vota information is enclosed by a wreath tied at the bottom by a cord with dangling ends. The right 'tail' of this cord seems to drape over the sunshine device in the mintmark making it look like a bridge railing to those who fail to observe closely. The sun is one of five symbols used in this position on coins of this mint. Scholars disagree on the order of the issues within the set but most assign the symbols as markers separating issues into time periods (possibly every six months?) over the period covered. Around the wreath is a generic 'Our Caesars' used both for Crispus and his half brother Constantine II. Coins of the same issue for their father bear the more specific legend 'DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG' which introduced both the devices DN (dominus noster = our lord) and MAX (maximus = greatest) which would appear on the obverse legends of coins issued shortly after this. Note that the man we, today, refer to as 'Constantine the Great' actually called himself 'Constantine the Greatest'.
Numismatists often make great studies based on presence and placement of little dots on coin dies. These can often be read as codes separating issues rather in the same way as the sun symbol on this coin. This coin shows a clear example of a dot well understood by students of coins. Just under the O of VOT on the reverse is a small raised dot that shows the pit left in the die by a compass point used to lay out the beaded border circle and other elements of the design. This dot was present on every die but would be erased by any design element placed in the center of the coin. It shows on designs with a blank space in the center. You also may look for it on reverses between two standing figures. When seen, it is ignored by coin catalog compilers since it was not an intentional part of the design. Some very high grade coins even show layout lines scribed on the die that were used to align the legends. These were so light that they wore away from the dies after a few strikes or off of the coin after a little time in circulation. This coin also shows a dot just before the P of CRIS - . PVS on the obverse. Is it intentional marking the die in some way, an accident resulting from a dropped tool or something that shows only on this specimen but not on other coins from the same die? I do not know. There are numismatists who study such minutia and use evidence gained from these studies to piece together what we know about mint operations and sequence of issues. There are enough dots on coins to keep students busy for as long in the future as has already passed in the science of numismatics.
Right: Julian II 361-363 AD AE3(bronze 17-20mm)
The coin was struck on a flan too small to contain the entire mintmark so we can not tell which of the four workshops struck this coin. Better examples also show that there was another branch before the missing workshop letter. Collectors usually discriminate against coins such as this which can not be fully identified. Julian's portrait is military with shield and spear. He wears a crested helmet and a diadem. The coin is the smaller of the two introduced in Julian's reform of the coinage when he first became Augustus. Unfortunately, we do not know the names of these denominations.