Arelatum / Constantina (Arles, France)

Ancient Roman coins from Arelatum in the Forum Ancient Coins consignment shop.

In 328 Arelatum (Arelate) was renamed Constantina in honor of Constantine II. After Constantine II was killed in 340, the name reverted to Arelatum, only to be changed again in 354 to Constantina by Constantius II. It retained that name, although the mintmark 'AR ' appeared on some of its coins even in the fifth century. Roman mint dates of operation: 313 - 475 A.D. Mintmarks: A, AR, ARL, CON, CONST, KON, KONSTAN.

References

Depeyrot, G. Les �missions mon�taires d'Arles (4th -5th Si�cles). Moneta 6. (Wetteren, 1996).

Moneta Historical Research by Tom Schroer

ARELATE (Arles, France - 43�41'N, 4�38'E) was founded in or before the sixth century BC by colonists of Greek descent from Massalia (Marseille, France). It had a strategic position on the Rhodanus (Rhone) River, about fifteen miles from the sea. It came under Roman dominion about 121 when the province of Gallia was formed. It assumed great importance from 104 BC onward after the "Fossae Marianae" ('canals of Marius' - begun on order of Gaius Marius) were cut around the silt-laden delta of the Rhone, providing deep-draft access to the sea. Julius Caesar used it as a naval base against Massalia in 49 BC. In 46 BC a Roman colony for veterans was founded across from the earlier site and named Colonia Julia Paterna Sextanorum Arelate. As Lugdunum (Lyon, France) on the Rhone grew in importance under Augustus (becoming the capital of Gallia Lugdunensis), Arelate also grew in importance as the transfer center of shipping from river craft to ocean-going ships.

Arelate was blessed by centuries of peace, and while the capital of Gallia Narbonensis was located at Narbo (Narbonne, France) in the early Empire, after the Diocletianic provincial re-organization Arelate became the capital of Gallia Narbonensis Secunda. An imperial mint was established there in 313 when the operation at Ostia was transferred there. The mint was to continue intermittent operation until about 475. Constantine I held the first state-sanctioned conference of western Christian bishops there in 314, the 'Council of Arles'.

In 328 it was renamed 'Constantina' in honor of Constantine II, probably as a tribute to the twelve-year-old who was nominally in charge of the campaign which his father Constantine I waged against the Germans that year. After Constantine II was killed in 340, the name reverted to Arelate, only to be changed again in 354 to 'Constantina' by Constantius II. It retained that name, although the mintmark 'AR' appeared on some of its coins even in the fifth century. Constantine III made it his capital during his brief reign.

Dictionary of Roman Coins

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ARELATE, a city in Gallia Narbonesis, now called Arles, and to this day a considerable town in Provence, being the See of an Archbishopric. Ansonius calls it Gallula Roma.

Pande duplex, Arelate, tuos blanda hospita Portus Gallula Roma --- --- [Open wide, Arelate, thy ports with friendly welcome, thou little Gallicised Rome.]

It is one of the six cities, to which the right of coining money was conceded, in the lower empire; whence coins of Constantine and others have for their mint-mark ARL. P. Arelatensium Prima, &c.--See Pitiscus and Rasche, who call Arelate a Roman colony; it is, how-ever, not included, as such, in the respective catalogs of Eckhel or Mionnet.

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