unique Constantine coin from Constantinople copying a Trajan denarius

[Victor C]

I recently got this coin and am very pleased to add it to my Constantinople tray. It's currently the only known example of this type and it copies a denarius of Trajan, including the slight drapery. It is the second time though that a Trajan coin was copied in bronze for Constantine. The first time was in A.D. 312 with the Legionary eagle between two vexilla and same reverse legend.


This coin was likely to have been struck in A.D. 330 to commemorate the founding of Constantinopolis. I have to wonder how many people would have even known that this coin was modeled on Trajan some 200 hundred years later; but given the rarity, this coin may not have been intended for general circulation.

Constantine I
circa A.D. 330
20mm 3.1g
CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; Rosette-diademed head right, with slight drapery on left shoulder.
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI; Victory standing front, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left.
In ex. CONSA
RIC VII Constantinople –

[Lech Stępniewski]

Excellent coin, Victor. I am happy that you have it.

This unique Constantius II probably belongs to the same issue. So Constantine II is also expected.

[Heliodromus]

The horseback type is also copied from Trajan (although also more recently used by Septimius Severus).

What I find amusing is that Constantine's Ticinum solidus (unlisted, ex. NAC 25.591) has a different wreath type than Trajan. Trajan had been awarded the oak leaf based Corona Civica so uses it on his type, but poor Constantine apparently hadn't, so has to make do with a different wreath type.

[Lech Stępniewski]

the oak leaf based Corona Civica

Was Corona Civica in use in time of Constantine?

[Serendipity]

I have to wonder how many people would have even known that this coin was modeled on Trajan some 200 hundred years later; but given the rarity, this coin may not have been intended for general circulation.

I had no idea that later coins were modelled on Trajan. I'm not surprised on learning this for the first time. I've always liked the gravitas that Trajan's portrait always conveys compared to the other Roman emperors. He would have been the perfect role model for later rulers who wanted to convey that same Roman virtue to their subjects.

[David Atherton]

One has to wonder if Victory is modelled on a cult image or statue?

[Heliodromus]

Was Corona Civica in use in time of Constantine?

I don't know if/when any of these awards were formally discontinued. One of the Panegyrics mentions some awards being given to Constantine after his Italian victory, but whatever is being depicted on that Ticinum solidus clearly isn't a Corona Civica. It's not clear what it is exactly though - it appear to include ears of grain, but doesn't have ties so may not be a crown at all.

[Lech Stępniewski]

but whatever is being depicted on that Ticinum solidus

I wonder if those lucky guys who received this solidus were even interested what it is or what it suppose to be.

[wolfgang336]

Terrific acquisition, Victor!