The middle child of Constantine 's three surviving sons,
Constans inherited the domains of Italy and the Roman provinces in
Africa after the death of his father in 337. No sooner than this happened
Constans and
Constantine II began squabbling over who got what and the latter meant to settle the issue with his army. However, luck remained with
Constans who easily appropriated all of
Constantine II 's former territories when Constantine died in battle; thus becoming the de facto ruler of the
West. He held on to power for another ten years until the embattled
Constantius II raised eyebrows within his own army and his top general,
Magnentius, proclaimed himself the emperor. Bereft of an army,
Constans had no real power and escaped as best he could. His former soldiers found him hiding in a temple, dragged him out of it and killed him.
Among the commonest of
ancient coins,
Constans joins the ranks of his Dad
Constantine I and his brothers
Constantine II and
Constantius II as one of the fourth century 's most prolific issuer of coins.
His bronzes are sold by the handful along with other coins of this age
still covered in the dirt accumulated over 1,600 years after being casually lost the same way one might lose small change at a park or beach today.
However, even though collectively these coins are common there are innumerable issues, well beyond what this catalog lists, that make each individual issue if not
rare then at least not outright common.
The most common bronzes will fall into the
Gloria Exercitus and
Fel Temp Reparatio strikes. With coordinated designs that reached every corner of the empire there were over a dozen mints making these across several decades guaranteeing a significant number of them remain today.
In silver we have the
Siliqua and
Miliarense which are fairly
rare and expensive, sometimes more so than the more common of the gold
Solidus issues. Other than common and not-so-good-looking Siliquae you can expect to pay several hundred dollars a piece and going into the thousands of dollars.
Busts:
1) Diademed (pearls)
head right
2) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust left
3) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding globe
4) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust right
5) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust right, holding globe
6) Diademed (plain band)
head right
7) Diademed (rosettes)
bust left, wearing consular robes, raising hand and holding
mappa 8) Diademed (rosettes)
head right
9) Diademed (rosettes)
head right, looking upwards
10) Diademed (rosettes),
cuirassed bust right
11) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust left
12) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding globe
13) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust left, raising hand and holding globe
14) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust right
15) Diademed (rosettes), draped and
cuirassed bust right, holding globe
16) Laureate
head right
17) Laureate
head right, looking upwards
18) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left
19) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right
20) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left
21) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding globe
22) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left, raising hand
23) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
Obverses:
1)
CONSTANS AVG
2)
CONSTANS AVGVSTVS 3)
CONSTANS IVN
NOB C 4)
CONSTANS IVN NOB
CAES 5)
CONSTANS MAX AVG
6)
CONSTANS NOB
CAES 7)
CONSTANS NOB
CAESAR 8)
CONSTANS PF AVG
9) DN
CONSTANS MAX
AVGVSTVS 10) DN
CONSTANS PF AVG
11) DN FL
CONSTANS AVG
12) FL
CONSTANS NOB C 13) FL
CONSTANS NOB
CAES 14) FL
CONSTANS NOB
CAESAR 15) FL CONSTANTIS
BEA C 16) FL CONSTANTIS BEA
CAES 17) FL I
CONSTANS NOB
CAES 18) FL IVL
CONSTANS AVG
19) FL IVL
CONSTANS NOB C 20) FL IVL
CONSTANS NOB
CAES 21) FL IVL
CONSTANS PERP AVG
22) FL IVL
CONSTANS PF AVG
23) FL IVL
CONSTANS PF
AVGG 24) FL IVL
CONSTANS PIVS FELIX AVG
25) FL IVL CONSTANTIS
NOB C 26) IMP
CONSTANS AVG
27) No
legend Reverses:
1)
CONSTANS AVG
2)
CONSTANS AVGVSTVS 3)
CONSTANS CAESAR 4)
CONSTANS NOB
CAESAR 5)
FEL TEMP REPARATIO 6)
FELICIA DECENNALIA 7)
FELICITAS PERPETVA 8)
FELICITAS REIPVBLICE 9)
GAVDIVM POPVLI ROMANI 10)
GAVDIVM ROMANORVM 11)
GLORIA EXERCITVS 12)
GLORIA REIPVBLICAE 13)
GLORIA ROMANORVM 14)
OB VICTORIAM TRIVMFALEM 15) PAX AVGVSTORVM
16)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS 17)
ROMAE AETERNAE 18)
SALVS ET
SPES REIPVBLICAE 19)
SECVRITAS PERPETVA 20)
SECVRITAS REIP
21)
SECVRITAS REIPVB 22)
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE 23)
SPES REIPVBLICAE 24)
TRIVMFATOR GENTIVM BARBARVM 25)
VICT AVG 26)
VICT AVGG 27)
VICTOR OMNIVM GENTIVM 28)
VICTORIA AVG 29)
VICTORIA AVGG 30)
VICTORIA AVGG NN 31)
VICTORIA AVGVSTI 32)
VICTORIA AVGVSTI NOSTRI 33)
VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM 34)
VICTORIA CAESAR NN 35)
VICTORIA CAESARVM
36)
VICTORIA CONSTANTIS AVG 37)
VICTORIA DD NN AVGG 38)
VICTORIA DN CONSTANTIS AVG
39)
VICTORIAE D N AVG 40)
VICTORIAE DD
AVGG Q NN
41)
VICTORIAE DD NN AVGG 42)
VICTORIAE DDD NNN
AVGGG 43)
VIRTVS AVGG NN
44)
VIRTVS CAESARVM 45)
VIRTVS CAESARVM NN
46)
VIRTVS DD NN AVGG 47)
VIRTVS EXERCITVM 48)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS 49)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS GALL 50)
VOTA PVBLICA 51) No
legend Types:
1)
Constans riding horse right, spearing two barbarians.
2)
Constans riding oncoming
quadriga, dropping coins and holding
scepter with
eagle atop
3)
Constans standing facing, holding spear and resting hand on
shield.
4)
Constans standing left on galley, holding
phoenix on globe and
labarum;
Victory seated to right, steering.
5)
Constans standing left on galley, holding
Victory and
labarum;
Victory seated right, steering.
6)
Constans standing left, holding
labarum and resting hand on
shield 7)
Constans standing left, holding
labarum and resting hand on
shield; two captives to left.
8)
Constans standing left, holding
labarum and
scepter; being crowned by
Victory to right, holding
palm.
9)
Constans standing left, holding
labarum and
scepter; seated captive to right.
10)
Constans standing left, holding
labarum and
scepter; two standards behind.
11)
Constans standing left, holding
labarum and spear.
12)
Constans standing left, holding
standard and resting hand on
shield; two captives to left and one to right.
13)
Constans standing left, holding
trophy and resting hand on
shield; seated captive on either
side 14)
Constans standing left, stepping on galley prow, holding
labarum, being crowned by
Victory.
15)
Constans standing right, holding spear and globe.
16)
Constans standing right, stepping on captive, holding spear and globe
17)
Constans standing right, touching
trophy and holding spear; seated captive at base of
trophy.
18)
Constans standing, facing, holding
labarum 19)
Constans,
Constantine II and
Constantius II standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on
shield.
20)
Constantine I standing, facing, holding
vexillum and
parazonium;
Constans,
Constantine II and
Constantius II standing on either
side, facing, each holding a spear and resting hand on
shield 21)
Constantine II seated, facing, raising hand and resting feet on stool reading
VOT V;
Constans and
Constantius II on either
side also seated, facing.
22)
Constantinopolis seated left, stepping on galley prow, holding
Victory on globe with
wreath and
palm and
scepter.
23) Genii (2) facing each other, holding together
wreath reading
VOTIS / X / MVLTIS / XX.
24)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
trophy; seated captive on either
side.
25)
Palm branches (3),
star above.
26)
Phoenix standing right on globe
27)
Phoenix standing right on pile of ashes
28)
Roma and
Constantinopolis seated, facing, holding between them
shield reading VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX
29)
Securitas standing, facing, leaning on
column and with legs crossed, holding
scepter 30)
Securitas standing, facing, leaning on
column, holding
scepter.
31)
Securitas standing, facing, leaning on
column, resting
head on hand.
32) Soldier advancing right, dragging captive from hut under tree and holding spear
33) Soldier standing left, spearing falling horseman
34) Soldiers (2) standing either
side of one
standard, each holding a spear and resting hand on
shield 35) Soldiers (2) standing either
side of two standards, each holding a spear and resting hand on
shield 36) Standards (3)
37) Standards (4)
38)
Vexillum reading VOT / V / MVLT / X; seated captive on either
side.
39)
Vexillum reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV; seated captive on either
side.
40)
Vexillum reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX; seated captive on either
side.
41) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, each holding
wreath and
palm.
42) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV
43) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / X / MVL / XV
44) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX
45) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / X / MVL / XX
46) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / X / MVLTIS / XX
47) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / V / MVLTIS / X
48) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / V / MVLT / X
49) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, holding together
wreath reading VOT / V / MVL / X
50)
Victory advancing left, holding
trophy and
palm.
51)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and dragging captive
52)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
53)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm; captive to right.
54)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
trophy 55)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath in each hand
56)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath reading XXV and
trophy; seated captive to left.
57)
Victory advancing right, stepping on captive, holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X.
58)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / V / MVLT / X;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
59)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / VX / MVLT / XX;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
60)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XV
61)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX
62)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X / MVLT / XX;
Genius to right.
63)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
64)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / XV / MVLT / XX;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
65)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / XV;
Genius to right.
66)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / XXX;
Genius to right also holding
shield.
67)
Victory standing right, stepping on globe, holding
shield reading VOT / XX;
Genius to right also holding
shield 68)
Wreath,
CONSTANS / AVG within
69)
Wreath, SIC / V / SIC / X within.
70)
Wreath, SIC / X / SIC / XX within.
71)
Wreath, SIC / XX / SIC / XXX within.
72)
Wreath, VOT / V / MVLT / X within.
73)
Wreath, VOT / XV / MVLT / XX within.
74)
Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within.
75)
Wreath, VOT / XXV / MVLT / XXX within.
Mints:
1)
Alexandria 2)
Antioch 3)
Aquileia 4)
Arelate 5)
Constantinopolis 6) Cyzicus
7)
Heraclea 8)
Lugdunum 9)
Nicomedia 10)
Roma 11)
Sirmium 12)
Siscia 13)
Thessalonica 14)
Treveri
AU Medallion Reference(s) 1) B13, O21, R19, T20, M05 Exe:
CONS Nine Solidi
weight RIC 67 (
VIII, Constantinople)
2) B14, O22, R41, T45, M12 Exe: ∘SIS• 1-1/2 Solidi
weight RIC 110 (
VIII,
Siscia)
3) B14, O24, R09, T08, M03 Exe: SMAQ Two Solidi
weight RIC 1a (
VIII,
Aquileia)
AU Solidus 4) B04, O02, R41, T44, M14 Exe: TR RIC 135 (
VIII, Trier)
5) B14, O02, R41, T45, M12 Exe: ∘SIS•
Obverse and
reverse within
wreath RIC 132 (
VIII,
Siscia)
6) B14, O22, R41, T45, M12 Exe: *SIS* RIC 124 (
VIII,
Siscia)
7) B14, O22, R47, T13, M13 Exe: TES RIC 34 (
VIII,
Thessalonica)
8) B14, O24, R09, T68, M13 Exe: TS` RIC 7 (
VIII,
Thessalonica)
9) B23, O01, R28, T50, M02 Exe: */LXXII/SMAN•
LXXII, the Roman numeral for 72, is a mark of value RIC 5 (
VIII,
Antioch)
10) B23, O13, R04, T52, M05 Exe:
CONS RIC 97 (VII, Constantinople)
AR Miliarense 11) B06, O27, R04, T37, M13 Exe: TS`
12) B14, O18, R24, T06, M13 Exe: TES RIC 91 (
VIII,
Thessalonica)
AR Siliqua 13) B04, O22, R41, T52, M14 Exe: TR RIC 176 (
VIII, Trier)
14) B09, O27, R02, T52, M05 Exe: C•` RIC 20 (
VIII, Constantinople)
15) B14, O22, R01, T25, M12 Exe: SIS¨ RIC 68 (
VIII,
Siscia)
16) B14, O22, R41, T51, M10 Exe: R RIC 69 (
VIII,
Rome)
17) B16, O18, R16, T16, M14 Exe: TR` RIC 35 (
VIII, Trier)
18) B17, O27, R02, T52, M05 Exe: C•`
AE2 19) B03, O10, R05, T07, M01 Exe: */ALE` RIC 64 (
VIII,
Alexandria), L 2823
20) B03, O10, R05, T07, M12 Exe: `SIS RIC 224 (
VIII,
Siscia)
21) B03, O10, R05, T32, M02 Exe: AN` RIC 126 (
VIII,
Antioch), L 2615
22) B03, O10, R05, T32, M03 Exe: AQ`• RIC 103 (
VIII,
Aquileia), L 888
23) B03, O10, R05, T32, M05 Exe:
CONS`* RIC 88 (
VIII, Constantinople)
24) B03, O10, R05, T32, M05 Exe: Γ/CONS`* RIC 92 (
VIII, Constantinople)
25) B03, O10, R05, T32, M06 Exe: */SMK` RIC 79 (
VIII, Cyzicus)
26) B03, O10, R05, T32, M06 Exe: •SMK` RIC 81 (
VIII, Cyzicus), L 2477
27) B03, O10, R05, T32, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 72 (
VIII, Cyzicus), L 2475
28) B03, O10, R05, T32, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 71 (
VIII,
Heraclea), L 1886
29) B03, O10, R05, T32, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 70 (
VIII,
Nicomedia)
30) B03, O10, R05, T32, M12 Exe: `SIS`R RIC 218 (
VIII,
Sirmium)
31) B04, O10, R05, T33, M12 Exe: A/`SIS• "A" behind
bust RIC 254 (
VIII,
Siscia)
32) B05, O10, R05, T33, M13 Exe: TS`*
Rev. Stephen Knapp collection
33) B12, O10, R05, T07, M01 Exe: ALE` RIC 56 (
VIII,
Alexandria), L 2816
34) B12, O10, R05, T32, M10 Exe: R` "N" behind
bust RIC 157 (
VIII,
Rome)
AE3 35) B01, O10, R11, T34, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 33 (
VIII, Cyzicus)
36) B01, O10, R25, T52, M02 Exe: SMAN` RIC 66 (
VIII,
Antioch)
37) B01, O10, R26, T52, M01 Exe: SMAL` RIC 31 (
VIII,
Alexandria)
38) B04, O06, R11, T34, M13 Exe:
SMTS` RIC 225 (VII,
Thessalonica)
39) B04, O06, R11, T35, M13 Exe:
SMTS` RIC 201 (VII,
Thessalonica)
40) B04, O08, R05, T26, M02 Exe: */AN` RIC 131 (
VIII,
Antioch)
41) B04, O08, R05, T27, M12 Exe: `SIS• RIC 232 (
VIII,
Siscia)
42) B04, O08, R05, T27, M14 Exe: TR`* RIC 230 (
VIII, Trier), L 36
43) B04, O08, R11, T35, M07 Exe: SMH`* RIC 139 (VII,
Heraclea)
44) B04, O10, R05, T04, M12 Exe: `SIS` Second
officina is a Greek cursive letter equivalent to the Latin on left RIC 244 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 1136
45) B04, O10, R05, T04, M12 Exe: `SIS• RIC 198 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 1140
46) B04, O10, R05, T04, M12 Exe: `SIS`• Second
officina is a Greek cursive letter equivalent to the Latin on left RIC 201 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 1142
47) B04, O10, R05, T04, M13 Exe: TES` RIC 120 (
VIII,
Thessalonica), L 1642
48) B04, O10, R05, T05, M13 Exe: A/TS` "A" behind
bust RIC 122 (
VIII,
Thessalonica)
49) B04, O10, R05, T26, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 88 (
VIII, Cyzicus)
50) B04, O10, R05, T27, M12 Exe: `SIS` Second
officina is a Greek cursive letter equivalent to the Latin on left RIC 241 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 1134
51) B04, O10, R05, T34, M14 Exe: TR` RIC 215 (
VIII, Trier)
52) B04, O13, R11, T34, M13 Exe:
SMTS` RIC 226 (VII,
Thessalonica)
53) B04, O19, R11, T35, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 87 (VII, Cyzicus)
54) B08, O10, R11, T34, M05 Exe:
CONS` RIC 29 (
VIII, Constantinople), L 1057
55) B14, O08, R11, T34, M04 Exe: `ARL "G" within
standard RIC 58 (
VIII,
Arles), L 443
56) B14, O08, R11, T34, M12 Exe: `SIS £ within
standard RIC 88 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 781
57) B14, O08, R11, T34, M12 Exe: `SIS¨ £ within
standard RIC 100 (
VIII,
Siscia)
58) B14, O08, R11, T34, M12 Exe: `SIS© £ within
standard RIC 93 (
VIII,
Siscia)
59) B14, O08, R11, T34, M14 Exe: TR`` "M" within
standard RIC 111 (
VIII, Trier)
60) B14, O10, R05, T04, M02 Exe: AN` RIC 96 (
VIII,
Antioch)
61) B14, O10, R05, T04, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 68 (
VIII, Cyzicus), L 2485
62) B14, O10, R05, T04, M10 Exe: A/R` "A" behind
bust RIC 152 (
VIII,
Rome)
63) B14, O10, R11, T04, M12 Exe: `SIS`R Second
officina is a Greek cursive letter equivalent to the Latin on left RIC 206 (
VIII,
Siscia)
64) B14, O10, R11, T34, M12 Exe: •`SIS• £ within
standard RIC 103 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 784
65) B14, O11, R20, T29, M10 Exe: R\` RIC 11 (
VIII,
Rome), L 588
66) B14, O11, R21, T29, M10 Exe: R\` RIC 8 (
VIII,
Rome), L 584
67) B15, O10, R05, T33, M10 Exe: A*/R` "A" behind
bust RIC 136 (
VIII,
Rome)
68) B16, O10, R11, T34, M05 Exe:
CONS` RIC 28 (
VIII, Constantinople), L 1045
69) B20, O13, R11, T35, M05 Exe: •
CONS`• RIC 83 (VII, Constantinople)
70) B23, O11, R11, T34, M10 Exe: `R`¯ RIC 52 (
VIII,
Rome), L 620
71) B23, O13, R11, T35, M10 Exe: R*` RIC 367 (VII,
Rome)
72) B23, O15, R11, T34, M12 Exe: `SIS RIC 255 (VII,
Siscia), L 757
73) B23, O15, R11, T35, M12 Exe: •`SIS• RIC 238 (VII,
Siscia)
AE4 Reference(s) 74) B01, O08, R51, T73, M02 Exe: SMAN` RIC 116 (
VIII,
Antioch), L 1399
75) B01, O10, R51, T74, M01 Exe: SMAL`• RIC 34 (
VIII,
Alexandria)
76) B01, O10, R51, T74, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 50 (
VIII, Cyzicus)
77) B01, O10, R51, T74, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 51 (
VIII,
Nicomedia)
78) B04, O08, R11, T41, M12 Exe: °/`SIS RIC 196 (
VIII,
Siscia)
79) B04, O08, R41, T41, M03 Exe: F/AQ` RIC 83 (
VIII,
Aquileia), L 707
80) B04, O08, R41, T41, M13 Exe: °/SMTS` RIC 106 (
VIII,
Thessalonica), L 864
81) B04, O08, R41, T41, M13 Exe:
SMTS` RIC 100 (
VIII,
Thessalonica)
82) B04, O08, R41, T41, M14 Exe: D/TR` RIC 196 (
VIII, Trier)
83) B08, O10, R51, T74, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 52 (
VIII,
Nicomedia)
84) B14, O08, R41, T41, M12 Exe: •/`SIS RIC 183 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 791
85) B14, O08, R41, T41, M12 Exe: "/`SIS RIC 192 (
VIII,
Siscia)
86) B14, O08, R41, T41, M12 Exe: °/`SIS RIC 195 (
VIII,
Siscia)
87) B14, O08, R41, T41, M13 Exe: •/•`SIS• RIC 185 (
VIII,
Siscia), L 793
88) B14, O08, R41, T41, M13 Exe: •/SMTS` RIC 101 (
VIII,
Thessalonica), L 861
89) B14, O08, R41, T41, M14 Exe: \/TR` RIC 185 (
VIII, Trier), L 140