Constantine 22mm VF follis of Treveri (310-313)
Sear 3863 RIC 880
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG - Laureate and draped bust right
MARTI CONSERVATORI - Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Mars right
Dedicated to "Mars the Preserver". 'Nuff said. 'cept
maybe, "very cool coin".
Constantine 22mm aVF follis of Ostia (312-313
AD) Sear
3869 RIC 94
IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG - Laureate and cuirassed bust right
S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI - Legionary eagle between two standards
Minted in the first series of coins after Maxentius' defeat. The
reverse mimics the coins of Trajan, and as far as I know is the last use of the
grand old abbreviation on a Roman coin. Ave etqua vale, SPQR.
ex.Melqart
Constantine 22mm EF/VF follis of Cyzicus (312-313) RIC
101b
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG - Laureate head right
GENIO AVGVSTI - Genius standing left holding patera in right hand over altar, cornucopia in left hand
Coin of the same period but from an eastern Mint under the control of
Maximinus Daia. Unimaginative tetriarchal portrait on the obverse, typical
tribute to the spirit of the Augusti on the reverse. ex.Ron Bude
Constantine 20mm EF/VF follis of Tinicium (313-314 AD) Sear 3868 RIC 7
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG - Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
SOLI INVICTO COMITI - Sol standing l. holding globe
Again, so soon after Milvian Bridge the coinage is purely pagan. The
reverse here declares Constantine to be the "Friend of Sol the
Invincible". The cult of Sol was a step toward monotheism however,
part of the Neo-Platonism movement which both influenced and was influenced by
Christianity. ex.Melqart
Constantine 18mm
VF ae3 of Cyzicus (317-320 AD) Sear 3876 RIC
8
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG - Laur. & draped bust left, holding mappa in r. hand
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG - Jupiter standing l. holding scepter and Victory on globe
A continuation of the theme so common on follii of the Tetriarchy, the
reverse invokes Jupiter to protect the Augustii.
Constantine 18mm
aVF ae3 of Thessalonica (318-319 AD) RIC 31
CONSTANTINVS AVG - Laureate and cuirassed bust right
VOTXX - MVLT - XXX within wreath
I really don't understand this coin at all. Minted at least a year before
Constantine's fifteenth anniversary celebrations, it seems to give thanks for
twenty completed years and pledging ten more. Can anyone enlighten me?
Constantine 17mm
VF ae3 of Treveri (319 AD) Sear
3883 RIC 213
IMP CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG - Helemeted and cuirassed bust right
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP VOT P R - Two Victories holding shield inscribed VOT P R above altar
The reverse is dedicated to "The Joyful Victories of our
Princes". The "VOT P R" on the shield stands for the
"Vows of the People of Rome" - annual vows of loyalty to the Emperor.
Constantine
18mm EF/VF ae3 of Rome (321 AD) Sear 3873 RIC
237
CONSTANTINVS AVG - Laureate head right
D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG VOT XX - VOT XX within wreath, rest outside wreath
Struck during Constantine's fifteenth anniversary celebrations, the "VOT
XX" advertising the vows offered for another five years rule. ex.Tony
Laverack
Constantine 18mm Fine
ae3 of Rome (326 AD) Sear-3872
RIC 281
(ANEPIGRAPHIC) - Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
CONSTANTINVS AVG - CONSTAN / TINVS / AVG
The empire was celebrating a series of dynastic anniversaries.
325-326 saw Constantine's 20th, the promotion of Constantius to Caesar, and the
10th anniversary of Crispus and Constantine II to that rank. Crispus
didn't have much time left to enjoy the rank. By the middle of 326 he had
been executed by his father.
Constantine 22mm VF ae3 of Cyzicus (326-327 AD)
Sear 3878 RIC 44
CONSTANTINVS AVG - Diademed head right
PROVIDENTIAE AVGG - Campgate with star between two turrets
This coin is a lot nicer in hand - the partial silvering makes the patina
appear patchy when scanned. The reverse of this series (Forethought of the
Augustii) has always seemed odd to me. "AVGG" implies two
Ausgustii and Licinius was long dead. According to RIC VII the campgate
reverse was a reference back to the Campgate argentii of the Tetriarchs which
had "AVGG" back when there really were two Augustii. Seems
unimaginative to me.
Constantine 18mm VF ae3 of Constantinople (327-328 AD)
RIC 23
CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG - Diademed head right
GLORIA ROMANORVM - Roma seated l. holding scepter and Victory, shield to right
It seems a bit ironic to strike a coin commemorating the "Glory of
Rome" in the new capital, Constantinople. At this time Constantinople
was three years old so it probably didn't have a lot of glory of its own.
It had plenty to come however, to be earned over the next 1,100 years.
ex.Silenos
Constantine 23mm aEF ae3 of Rome (329
AD) Sear 3874 RIC 322
CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG - Rosette diademed, cuirassed and draped bust right
D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG VOT XXX - VOT XXX within wreath surrounded by inscription
Minted for Constantine's upcoming 25th anniversary. These were big
deals in the calendar - not just for the celebration of a popular, long-lived
emperor, but also for the donatives which came with it. With a standing
army of 250,000 soldiers, each getting five solidii and one pound of silver, it
runs to a stunning 5.5 tons of gold and 80 tons of silver.