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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |Constantinian Era| ▸ |Constantine the Great||View Options:   | | | Flavius Valerius Constantinus, Constantine the Great, was the son of Helena and the First Tetrarchic ruler Constantius I. Constantine is most famous for his conversion to Christianity after the battle of the Milvian Bridge where he defeated emperor Maxentius. Before the battle, he saw the words "In Hoc Signo Victor Eris" (By this sign you shall conquer) emblazoned on the sun around the Chi Rho, the symbol of Christianity. After placing this Christogram on the shields of his army, he defeated his opponent and thus ruled the empire through divine providence. He also shifted the capital of the empire to Constantinople, establishing the foundation for an Empire that would last another 1000 years. He died in 337 and his sons divided the Roman territories. |
On 11 May 330, Constantine I refounded Byzantium, renamed it Constantinopolis after himself, and moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to his new city. The new capital was Christian, old gods and traditions were either replaced or assimilated into a framework of Christian symbolism. Constantine built the new Church of the Holy Apostles on the site of a temple to Aphrodite. Generations later there was the story that a divine vision led Constantine to this spot. The capital would often be compared to the 'old' Rome as Nova Roma Constantinopolitana, the "New Rome of Constantinople." Special commemorative coins were issued with types for both Rome and Constantinople to advertise the importance of the new capital.SL113480. Billon reduced centenionalis, RIC VII Cyzicus 92 (R4), LRBC I 1220, SRCV IV 16476, Cohen VII 22, NGC Ch XF, strike 4/5, surface 3/5 (3598445-015), weight 2.35 g, maximum diameter 18 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 331 - 334 A.D.; obverse CONSTANTINOPOLI, laureate and helmeted bust of Constantinopolis left, wearing imperial cloak, scepter over left shoulder; reverse Victory standing left, right foot on prow, scepter in right hand, resting left hand on grounded shield, SMKA exergue; from a Virginia Collector, ex Talos Coins (eBay, 2 Dec 2014); NGC| Lookup;
In Coins of the Roman Empire, p. 239, Robert Carson suggest that, "Constantine felt obliged to match the Licinian 6-scrupula standard of his folles and this indeed may be the significance of the number VI attached to the signature of the mint of Thessalonica." In Roman Coins and Their Values IV, p. 477, David Sear notes, "However, this fails to explain the numeral VII which occurs on some issues."RL111925. Billon centenionalis, Hunter V p. 198, 283 (also 5th officina); RIC VII Thessalonica p. 513, 123 (R2); SRCV IV 16221; Cohen VII 123, Choice aEF, well centered, green patina, flow lines, light earthen deposits,, weight 3.543 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 150o, 5th officina, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 324 A.D.; obverse CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, laureate head right; reverse D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, VOT / XX in two lines within wreath, TSEVI in exergue;
In 317, the earliest historically verified reference to tea was recorded in China, although the Chinese had already been drinking the beverage for centuries.RL111912. Billon follis, RIC VII Ticinum p. 371, 68 (R1), SRCV IV 16091, Cohen VII 536, Hunter V -, Choice EF, well centered, brown tone, flow lines, rev. a little weak, weight 2.891 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 180o, 2nd officina, Ticinum (Pavia, Italy) mint, 317 - 318 A.D.; obverse IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right; reverse SOLI INVICTO COMITI (to the unconquered Sun, minister [of the Emperor]), Sol standing slightly left, radiate, nude but for chlamys over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand commanding the sun to rise, globe in left hand, P left, ST in exergue; from the Michael Arslan Collection; scarce;
The reverse is dedicated to blessed tranquility (peace) and advertises that Constantine has completed his vows (prayers) to achieve 20 years of successful rule (VOTIS XX). On this coin, an engraving error has OVTIS XX on the altar.RL113176. Billon centenionalis, cf. RIC VII Trier p. 194, 342 (VOT/IS XX on altar); SRCV IV 16177 (same, bust); Hunter p. 171, 57 (same, no pellet in ex.), VF, green patina, unusual rev. inscription error, weight 2.565 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Treveri (Trier, Germany) mint, 322 A.D.; obverse CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, laureate bust right wearing consular trabea, eagle-tipped scepter in right hand; reverse BEATA TRANQVILLITAS (blessed tranquility), globe on altar inscribed OV/TIS / XX (sic! engraving error) in three lines, three stars above, PTR• in exergue; from the Michael Arslan Collection, ex Savoca Coins blue auction 163 (14 May 2023), lot 1469;
In 320, Licinius reneged on the religious freedom promised by the Edict of Milan, and began a new persecution of Christians in the Eastern Roman Empire. He destroyed churches, imprisoned Christians and confiscated their property.RL111911. Billon centenionalis, Hunter V p. 194, 253 (also 5th officina); RIC VII Siscia p. 438, 109 (R3); SRCV IV 16325; Cohen VII 690, gVF, centered, dark patina, earthen encrustations, weight 2.987 g, maximum diameter 20.0 mm, die axis 180o, 5th officina, Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) mint, 320 A.D.; obverse CONSTANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS EXERCIT (courage of the army), vexillum standard inscribed VOT / XX in two lines, flanked by two bearded captives seated back to back at base, captive on left with hands bound behind, captive on right looking back and up at vexillum, S - F divided high across fields, ESIS* in exergue; from the Michael Arslan Collection;
This follis type with T - F divided across the field and PTR in the exergue appears to have been struck at Trier for an extraordinarily long period, from 310 to 315 A.D., at two different weight standards. The earlier, heavier standard, which averaged 4 - 5 grams, was likely struck from 310 to 313 A.D. The later, lighter standard, which averaged 3.5 grams, did not include Maximinus Daza. It was likely struck in 313, after Constantine and Licinius broke off relations with the Eastern ruler, to perhaps as late as 315 A.D. Weights vary from the standards sometimes making it difficult to distinguish the date of a particular coin. This coin could be from the later issue.RL111915. Billon follis, RIC VI Treveri p. 227, 870, Hunter V 36 (5.43g) & 37 (4.57g), SRCV IV 16060, Cohen VII 530, Choice EF, centered on a round flan, slight porosity, flow lines, rev. die wear, rev. center a little weak, weight 4.007 g, maximum diameter 23.0 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Treveri (Trier, Germany) mint, 310/313 - 313/315 A.D.; obverse IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right; reverse SOLI INVICTO COMITI (to the unconquered Sun, minister [of the Emperor]), Sol standing slightly left, radiate, nude but for chlamys over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand commanding the sun to rise, globe in left hand, T- F flanking at sides, PTR in exergue;
This type was issued again in 328 - 329 A.D., but with a pearl-diademed bust.RL112732. Billon centenionalis, Hunter V p. 204, 330 (also 1st officina); RIC VII Nicomedia p. 615, 90; LRBC I 1073; SRCV IV 16257; Cohen VII 454, Choice VF, well centered, dark patina, weight 3.847 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Nicomedia (Izmit, Turkey) mint, 324 - 325 A.D.; obverse CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, laureate head right; reverse PROVIDENTIA AVGG (the foresight of the two emperors), campgate with two towers, star above, SMNA in exergue;
St. Helena, Augusta, 8 November 324 - c. 330 A.D., Mother of Constantine the Great
In 326 A.D., Constantine I reorganized the Roman army in smaller units classified into three grades: palatini, (imperial escort armies); comitatenses, (forces based in frontier provinces) and limitanei (auxilia border troops).RL112886. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Heraclea p. 551, 79 (S); LRBC I 873; SRCV IV 16613; Cohen VII 12; Hunter V -, Choice aVF, centered, green patina, weight 2.355 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 0o, 2nd officina, Heraclea (Marmara Ereglisi, Turkey) mint, 325 - 326 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, veiled head left, branch downward in right hand, raising pallium with left hand, SMHB in exergue;
The reverse legend dedicates this coin to "the glory of the Army."RL113780. Billon reduced centenionalis, RIC VII Rome p. 336, 335; LRBC I 537; SRCV IV 16349A; Cohen VII 254; cf. Hunter V p. 190, 226 (obscure mintmark), Choice gVF, dark near black patina, centered on tight flan, weight 2.243 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Rome mint, 330 - 331 A.D.; obverse CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, rosette and laurel diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse GLORIA EXERCITVS (glory of the army), two soldiers standing facing, heads turned inward confronted, two standards in center between them, each holds a spear in outer hand and rests inner hand on grounded shield, RBP in exergue; scarce;
Constantine is most famous for leading the Empire to Christianity. Before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, he saw "In Hoc Signo Victor Eris" (By this sign you shall conquer) on the sun around a Chi Rho ligature. With the symbol of Christ on his army's shields, he was victorious. He moved the capital to Constantinople.RL113305. Billon follis, RIC VI Thessalonica p. 519, 61b; SRCV IV 15972; Cohen VII p. 264, 309; Hunter V -, F, porous, weight 2.501 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 0o, 5th officina, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, c. 312 - 313 A.D.; obverse IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right; reverse IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN, Jupiter standing facing with head turned to left, wearing chlamys over shoulder, holding globe and scepter, eagle standing left with head turned to right with wreath in beak at his feet to left, .TS.E. in exergue.;
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