Crispus was the oldest son of Constantine. He was made
Caesar in about 316 and groomed along the military and political ways to be expected of a future emperor. However, his career was cut short in 326 when his stepmother
Fausta accused him of attempted rape. Her story must have sounded like an unspeakable atrocity for Constantine had his son put to death at once. Some time later it was somehow found out that she 'd made up the entire story and Constantine had her literally boiled to death.
Fausta 's motive most likely had to do with removing
Crispus from the line of succession to make way for her own sons. This much she was successful at since they did indeed become emperors some ten years afterwards.
Thanks to a lengthy 10 years as
Caesar, we find that coins of
Crispus are varied, interesting and surprisingly affordable so long as we steer clear of precious metal coinage.
The bronzes, comprising once-silvered denominations now referred to as "reduced Folles" or simply AE3 's, turn up frequently in the "uncleaned" coins available on the internet for a dollar or two a piece.
Although somewhat more
rare, coins that retain most or even all of the fragile silver wash given at the mint may
still be found and, happily, are not terribly expensive in most cases.
Busts:
1) Bare headed,
cuirassed bust right
2) Bare headed, draped and
cuirassed bust right
3) Diademed
head right, looking up
4) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust facing, leading horse and holding spear over shoulder
5) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left
6) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield 7) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder
8) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 9) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust right
10) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 11) Helmeted, draped and
cuirassed bust left
12) Helmeted, draped and
cuirassed bust right
13) Helmeted, laureate,
cuirassed bust right
14) Laureate
bust left, holding spear and
shield 15) Laureate
bust left, wearing consular robes, holding
scepter with
eagle atop
16) Laureate
bust left, wearing consular robes.
17) Laureate
bust right, wearing consular robes, holding
scepter with
eagle atop
18) Laureate
bust right, wearing consular robes, holding
scepter with
eagle atop and globe
19) Laureate
head right
20) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left
21) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield 22) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
Victory on globe
23) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder
24) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 25) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
Victory on globe
26) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding two arrows and
shield with arrow
27) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, leading horse and holding
shield 28) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, leading horse and holding spear over shoulder
29) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right
30) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear and
shield 31) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 32) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left
33) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield 34) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding
Victory on globe and
mappa 35) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left, raising hand and holding globe
36) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
37) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right, holding spear and globe
38) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right, holding spear and
Victory on globe
39) Laureate, draped
bust left, holding
mappa and
scepter on globe
40) Laureate, draped
bust left, holding
Victory on globe and
mappa 41) Laureate, draped
bust left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter 42) Laureate, draped
bust right, holding
Victory on globe and
mappa 43)
Radiate head right
44)
Radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
Obverses:
1) CAESARVM NOSTRORVM
2)
CRISPVS ET CONSTANTINVS NOBB CC
COSS II
3)
CRISPVS N C
COS II 4)
CRISPVS NOB C 5)
CRISPVS NOB
CAES 6)
CRISPVS NOB
CAESAR 7)
CRISPVS NOBIL C 8)
CRISPVS NOBIL
CAES 9)
CRISPVS NOBIL
CAESAR 10)
CRISPVS NOBILISS
CAES 11)
CRISPVS NOBILISSIMVS CAES 12) DN CRISPO NOB
CAES 13) DN
CRISPVS NOB
CAES 14) DN
CRISPVS NOBILISS
CAES 15) DN
CRISPVS SEMPER
VICTOR NOB C 16) DN FL IVL
CRISPVS NOB
CAES 17) DN IVL CRISPO N C
18) FL CL
CRISPVS NOB
CAES 19) FL IVL
CRISPVS NOB C 20) FL IVL
CRISPVS NOB
CAES 21) FL IVL
CRISPVS NOBIL C 22) FL VN
CRISPVS NO CAS
23) IVL
CRISPVS NOB C 24) IVL
CRISPVS NOB
CAES 25) IVL
CRISPVS NOB
CAESAR 26) No
legend Reverses:
1)
ALAMANNIA DEVICTA 2)
BEAT TRANQLITAS 3) BEAT
TRANQVILLITAS 4)
BEATA TRANQVILLITAS 5) CAESARVM NOSTRORVM
6)
CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE 7)
CONCORDIA AVGG NN
8)
CRISPVS CAESAR 9)
CRISPVS ET CONSTANTINVS IVN NOBB CAESS
10) DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG
11) DOMINOR NOSTROR CAESS
12) DOMINORVM NOSTRORVM CAESS
13)
FELICITAS ROMANORVM 14)
FELICITAS SAECVLI 15)
FELIX PROCESSVS
COS III 16)
FELIX PROGENIES
CONSTANTINI AVG 17)
FELIX PROOESSVS
COS III 18)
GAVDIVM ROMANORVM 19)
GLORIA ROMANORVM 20)
IOVI CONSERVATORI 21)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG 22)
IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS
23) IVVENTVS
24)
MONETA AVGG ET CAESS NN
25)
PAX PERPETVA 26) PRINCIPI IVVENTVT
27) PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS
28)
PRINCIPIA IVVENTVTIS 29)
PROVIDENTIA AVGG 30)
PROVIDENTIA CAES 31)
PROVIDENTIA CAESS
32)
ROMAE AETERNAE 33)
SACRA MONETA VRBIS 34)
SAECVLI FELICITAS 35)
SARMATIA DEVICTA 36)
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE 37)
SOLI INVICTO 38)
SOLI INVICTO COMITI 39)
VBERTAS SAECVLI 40)
VBIQVE VICTORES 41)
VICT LAETAE PRINC PERP 42)
VICTORIA AVGG ET CAESS NN
43)
VICTORIA BAEATISSIMORVM
44)
VICTORIA CAESS NN 45)
VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVG 46)
VICTORIA CRISPI
CAES 47)
VICTORIAE LAET P P 48)
VICTORIAE LAETA
PRINC PERP 49)
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP 50)
VICTORIAE PERPETVAE 51)
VIRT EXERC 52)
VIRTVS AVG ET CAESS NN 53)
VIRTVS AVGG 54)
VIRTVS CAESAR NN
55)
VIRTVS CAESARI
56)
VIRTVS CAESARI N
57)
VIRTVS CAESS 58)
VIRTVS EXERCIT 59)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS GALL 60) VOT / V / MVLT / X
61) VOT / XV / FEL / XX
62)
VOT V / MVLT X / CAESS
63)
VOTA ORBIS ET
VRBIS SEN ET P R 64) No
legend Types:
1)
Alamannia seated left, weeping;
trophy and
shield behind.
2)
Altar reading VO / TIS / XX with globe atop; three stars above
3)
Altar reading VOT / IS / XX with globe atop; three stars above
4)
Cippus with
shield reading AVG
5) City gate with (2) turrets,
star above.
6) City gate with (2) turrets.
7) City gate with (3) turrets.
8) City gate with (4) turrets,
star above.
9) City gate with (4) turrets.
10)
Concordia seated left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia 11)
Constantine I standing, facing, under archway,
Crispus to right and
Constantine II to left, each holding a
scepter.
12)
Crispus riding horse right, spearing barbarian
13)
Crispus standing left, holding globe and
scepter 14)
Crispus standing left, holding
standard and
scepter,
standard to right.
15)
Crispus standing left, holding
standard and spear, two standards to right.
16)
Crispus standing left, resting hand on
shield and holding spear.
17)
Crispus standing right, holding spear and globe
18)
Crispus standing right, holding spear and globe; seated captive on either
side.
19)
Crispus standing right, holding spear and resting hand on
shield.
20)
Crispus standing, holding
standard with seated captive on either
side.
21) Crossroads in shape of "X"; Sol at juncture, raising hand and holding globe.
22)
Felicitas standing left, holding branch and
scepter.
23)
Francia seated left, resting
head on
hands;
trophy and
shield behind.
24)
Jupiter standing left, holding globe and
scepter.
25)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter 26)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle to left and seated captive to right.
27)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle to left.
28)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter; seated captive to left.
29)
Legend CRISPVS /
CAESAR,
star above
30)
Legend VO / TIS / V
31)
Legend VO / TIS / XX
32)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
shield 33)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
trophy, seated captive on either
side.
34)
Mars standing left, resting hand on
shield and holding spear.
35)
Monetae (3) standing left, holding
scale and
cornucopia; piles of coins by their feet.
36) Pax standing, facing, with legs crossed and leaning on
column, holding branch and
scepter.
37)
Roma seated left, holding
shield reading X / V
38)
Roma seated left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter 39)
Roma seated right, holding
shield reading X / V
40)
Securitas standing, facing, leaning on
column, resting
head on hand.
41) Sol advancing left, raising hand and holding whip.
42) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe.
43) Sol standing right, raising hand and holding globe.
44)
Trophy, seated captive on either
side 45)
Ubertas standing left, holding
scale and
cornucopia 46)
Vexillum reading VOT / X, seated captive on either
side.
47)
Vexillum reading VOT / XX, seated captive on either
side.
48) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding
shield reading VOT / PR on
cippus.
49)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
50)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm; seated captive on either
side.
51)
Victory advancing right, holding
wreath and
palm.
52)
Victory advancing right, stepping on captive, holding
trophy and
palm.
53)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X
54)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VOT / X together with
Genius to lower right.
55)
Wreath, VOT / V within
56)
Wreath, VOT / X within
57)
Wreath, VOT / XV FEL / XX within
58)
Wreath,
VOT V / MVLT X / CAESS within.
59)
Wreath,
VOT V CAESS NN within
60)
Wreath,
VOT X / ET XV F
Mints:
1)
Alexandria 2)
Antioch 3)
Aquileia 4)
Arelate 5)
Constantinopolis 6) Cyzicus
7)
Heraclea 8) Londinium
9)
Lugdunum 10)
Nicomedia 11)
Roma 12)
Sirmium 13)
Siscia 14)
Thessalonica 15)
Ticinum 16)
Treveri
AU Medallion Reference(s) 1) B37, O20, R18, T23, M16 Exe:
FRANCIA RIC 240 (VII, Trier)
AU Solidus 2) B03, O26, R08, T49, M10 Exe: N RIC 110 (VII,
Nicomedia)
3) B14, O20, R07, T10, M02 Exe: SMAN RIC 50 (VII,
Antioch)
4) B14, O20, R07, T10, M12 Exe:
SIRM RIC 38 (VII,
Sirmium)
5) B21, O20, R27, T17, M02 Exe: SMAN RIC 43 (VII,
Antioch)
6) B34, O19, R27, T14, M03 Exe: AQ
AU 1½ Scripulum 7) B36, O05, R27, T17
AR Miliarense 8) B29, O20, R13, T11, M14 Exe: THES
AE3 9) B05, O07, R02, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 275 (VI,
London)
10) B05, O07, R04, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 230 (VI,
London)
11) B06, O07, R02, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 281 (VII,
London)
12) B08, O07, R02, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 280 (VII,
London)
13) B17, O23, R04, T02, M16 Exe: •`TR` RIC 405 (VII, Trier)
14) B17, O24, R04, T02, M16 Exe: •`TR RIC 376 (VII, Trier)
15) B19, O05, R05, T30, M04 Exe: `A RIC 210 (VII,
Arles)
16) B19, O05, R05, T55, M04 Exe: ``A RIC 235 (VII,
Arles)
17) B19, O05, R05, T55, M04 Exe: `A RIC 230 (VII,
Arles)
18) B19, O05, R05, T56, M11 Exe: R` RIC 246 (VII,
Rome)
19) B19, O20, R01, T52, M12 Exe: •
SIRM• RIC 49 (VII,
Sirmium)
20) B19, O23, R05, T55, M13 Exe: `SIS* RIC 161 (VII,
Siscia)
21) B19, O23, R05, T56, M08 Exe: `LON` RIC 291 (VII,
London)
22) B19, O23, R05, T56, M13 Exe: `SIS* RIC 165 (VII,
Siscia)
23) B19, O23, R05, T56, M13 Exe: `SIS¨ RIC 169 (VII,
Siscia)
24) B19, O23, R05, T56, M13 Exe: `SIS¯ RIC 175 (VII,
Siscia)
25) B19, O23, R05, T56, M13 Exe: `SIS« RIC 181 (VII,
Siscia)
26) B19, O23, R05, T56, M16 Exe: `TR` RIC 440 (VII, Trier)
27) B19, O23, R31, T05, M13 Exe: •`SIS• RIC 201 (VII,
Siscia)
28) B21, O05, R58, T46, M03 Exe: S/F/AQ` RIC 43 (VII,
Aquileia)
29) B21, O05, R58, T47, M03 Exe: £/AQ` RIC 61 (VII,
Aquileia)
30) B21, O07, R02, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 279 (VII,
London)
31) B21, O07, R04, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 250 (VII,
London)
32) B21, O24, R03, T03, M16 Exe: `TR
33) B21, O24, R04, T02, M16 Exe: •`TR• RIC 372 (VII, Trier)
34) B21, O24, R04, T03, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 308 (VII, Trier)
35) B21, O24, R58, T46, M13 Exe: S/F over "/`SIS¦ RIC 130 (VII,
Siscia)
36) B21, O24, R58, T46, M13 Exe: S/F/`SIS* RIC 113 (VII,
Siscia)
37) B24, O07, R02, T03, M08 Exe: `LON RIC 278 (VII,
London)
38) B24, O24, R04, T02, M16 Exe: `TR• RIC 347 (VII, Trier)
39) B24, O24, R04, T03, M16 Exe: `TR•
40) B24, O24, R49, T48, M13 Exe: I/`SIS• RIC 78 (VII,
Siscia)
41) B24, O24, R58, T47, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 68 (VII, Trier)
42) B24, O25, R49, T48, M13 Exe: `SIS• RIC 64 (VII,
Siscia)
43) B29, O05, R04, T03, M09 Exe: C/R/`LG RIC 133 (VII, Lyons)
44) B29, O05, R05, T55, M03 Exe: •AQ`• RIC 89 (VII,
Aquileia)
45) B29, O05, R11, T56, M15 Exe: `T RIC 156 (VII,
Ticinum)
46) B29, O05, R11, T56, M15 Exe: `/`T RIC 170 (VII,
Ticinum)
47) B29, O05, R12, T55, M15 Exe: `T RIC 148 (VII,
Ticinum)
48) B29, O05, R28, T16, M15 Exe: P/`T RIC 76 (VII,
Ticinum)
49) B29, O05, R31, T05, M04 Exe: `*AR RIC 270 (VII,
Arles)
50) B29, O05, R58, T46, M03 Exe: S/F/AQ` RIC 41 (VII,
Aquileia)
51) B29, O05, R58, T47, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 77 (VII,
Thessalonica)
52) B29, O08, R28, T32, M11 Exe: A/R` RIC 87 (VII,
Rome)
53) B29, O20, R51, T21, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 68 (VII,
Thessalonica)
54) B29, O23, R31, T05, M14 Exe:
SMTS` RIC 155 (VII,
Thessalonica)
55) B29, O24, R05, T56, M04 Exe: `*AR RIC 254 (VII,
Arles)
56) B32, O05, R05, T55, M03 Exe: •AQ`• RIC 88 (VII,
Aquileia)
57) B32, O05, R31, T08, M04 Exe: `A`RL RIC 292 (VII,
Arles)
58) B32, O19, R31, T05, M10 Exe: SMN` RIC 92 (VII,
Nicomedia)
59) B32, O20, R05, T55, M14 Exe: TS`VI RIC 113 (VII,
Thessalonica)
60) B32, O20, R05, T56, M14 Exe: TS`VI RIC 125 (VII,
Thessalonica)
61) B32, O20, R05, T56, M09 Exe: •/•/•PLGC• 323-324 RIC 220 (VII, Lyons)
62) B32, O20, R31, T05, M01 Exe: SMAL` RIC 35 (VII,
Alexandria 63) B32, O20, R31, T05, M02 Exe: SMANT` RIC 64 (VII,
Antioch)
64) B32, O20, R31, T05, M06 Exe: •SMK`• RIC 46 (VII, Cyzicus)
65) B32, O20, R31, T05, M06 Exe: SMK` RIC 25 (VII, Cyzicus)
66) B32, O20, R31, T05, M11 Exe: R` RIC 266 (VII,
Rome)
67) B32, O20, R31, T05, M11 Exe: R=` RIC 288 (VII,
Rome)
68) B32, O26, R64, T29, M02 Exe: SMANT`/• RIC 53 (VII,
Antioch)
69) B33, O05, R53, T09, M11 Exe: P/R/R`
Rev. Stephen Knapp collection
70) B33, O05, R64, T60, M11 Exe: R` RIC 204 (VII,
Rome)
71) B36, O05, R05, T55, M03 Exe: •AQ`• RIC 87 (VII,
Aquileia)
72) B36, O05, R05, T55, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 69 (VII,
Aquileia)
73) B36, O05, R05, T56, M03 Exe: `/¯/•AQ`• RIC 108 (VII,
Aquileia)
74) B36, O05, R11, T56, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 61 (VII,
Heraclea)
75) B36, O05, R28, T16, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 9 (VII,
Aquileia)
76) B36, O05, R28, T16, M04 Exe: C/S/`ARL RIC 143 (VII,
Arles)
77) B36, O05, R28, T19, M04 Exe: R/S/`ARL RIC 132 (VII,
Arles)
78) B36, O05, R31, T05, M05 Exe: A/CONS 326 RIC 8 (VII, Constantinople)
79) B36, O05, R31, T05, M07 Exe: SMH` RIC 75 (VII,
Heraclea)
80) B36, O06, R28, T19, M13 Exe: `SIS RIC 39 (VII,
Siscia)
81) B36, O10, R28, T19, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 21 (VII,
Thessalonica)
82) B36, O10, R64, T58, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 38 (VII,
Thessalonica)
83) B36, O11, R28, T19, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 20 (VII,
Thessalonica)
84) B36, O12, R04, T03, M09 Exe: `LG RIC 203 (VII, Lyons)
85) B36, O16, R20, T26, M06 Exe: X over IIГ/SMK` RIC 17 (VII, Cyzicus)
86) B36, O16, R31, T25, M10 Exe: `/• over `/SMN RIC 32 (VII,
Nicomedia)
87) B36, O16, R44, T49, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 62 (VII,
Thessalonica)
88) B36, O16, R64, T58, M14 Exe: •TS•`•
89) B36, O23, R41, T48, M13 Exe: S/•`SIS• RIC 87 (VII,
Siscia)
90) B36, O25, R49, T48, M13 Exe: `SIS• RIC 63 (VII,
Siscia)
91) B39, O16, R22, T25, M06 Exe: ?/`/SMK RIC 10 (VII, Cyzicus)
92) B39, O16, R22, T28, M02 Exe: `/SMANT RIC 28 (VII,
Antioch)
93) B39, O16, R31, T07, M07 Exe: •MH`• RIC 23 (VII,
Heraclea)
94) B39, O16, R31, T07, M07 Exe: •SMH` RIC 30 (VII,
Heraclea)
95) B39, O16, R31, T07, M07 Exe: MHT` RIC 18 (VII,
Heraclea)
96) B39, O16, R31, T25, M10 Exe: `/• over `/SMN RIC 31 (VII,
Nicomedia)
97) B44, O19, R49, T48, M15 Exe: C/ST 319 RIC 93 (VII,
Ticinum)
98) B44, O19, R49, T48, M15 Exe: C/TT 319 RIC 93 (VII,
Ticinum)