CLARITY OR PERSONALITY
Last Sunday, I found a
follis not from my
field. I snapped it up:
CONSTANTIVS
IVN NOB CAES.
Constantius II, r., laur., dr., cuir. /CLARITAS REIPUBLICAE. Sol [
Apollo] stands l., raises r. hand, holds globe in l.,
chlamys across l. shoulder; B
SIS in ex. 2.1 mm, 2.86 gm.
RIC7
Siscia 37.
I usually stop my
collection at 212/213 – the demise of Daza, the closing of the
Ostia mint, or the end of
RIC6. The little
follis I bought Sunday is an
RIC7 coin, but it
had several points to recommend itself.
1. It’s the last bow for the old gods at the
Siscia mint. Their appearances are few at other mints from 317.
Victory hangs on, but she was only a
genius, not a great god.
2.
Constantius II, named after grandfather
Constantius I, has been promoted to
Caesar at 3 years of age. The
portrait shows a young teenager.
3.
Constantine I’s favorite god, Sol [
Apollo], is no longer a
comes -- an official rank at court. He, maybe, and maybe not, has a new title "claritas," which like "
comes" is a Latin noun.
Claritas --atis, feminine (clarus) clearness, brightness, brilliancy. Transferred meanings: clearness of the mind, plainness, fame, a celebrity, renown.
The meanings clearness, brightness and brilliancy certainly go with the sun [Sol]. Of the transferred meanings, the nouns, clearness of mind, plainness, fame and renown don’t fit and sometimes don’t make sense. What about a celebrity? A celebrity is a famous person who has not done much, if anything at all. Think nighttime TV, which speaks of models and show contestants with the same seriousness as heads of state and inventors.
Now back to claritas. Sol [
Apollo] in the view of pagans
had performed many deeds. He is more than a personality. What about the 3-year-old
Constantius II? "Personality of (or for) the State" fits him perfectly. What is probably intended: "Constantius, Junior, noble
Caesar, a [new] Personality for the State."
What is probably implied: "A bright, brilliant, renowned personality [who will be leader] of the State."
Note:
Chlamys: Large upper garment of wool, often of purple and gold, worn in
Greece,
Cicero, Virgil.
Follibus Fanaticus