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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |Constantinian Era| ▸ |Helena||View Options:   | | | Helena was the first wife of Constantius I and mother of Constantine I. Although abandoned by her husband, Helena was brought to the Imperial court by her son and was given many titles. She exercised immense influence over the government of the empire and was instrumental in the continued growth of Christianity. Famed for her piety, Helena is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches. Her feast day as a saint of the Orthodox Christian Church is celebrated with her son on May 21, the "Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostles." Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on August 18. Her feast day in the Coptic Orthodox Church is on 9 Pashons. Eusebius records the details of her pilgrimage to Palestine and other eastern provinces (though not her discovery of the True Cross). She is the patron saint of new discoveries. |
On 20 May 325, Constantine I summoned an ecumenical council of bishops in Nicaea (the First Council of Nicaea). The Nicene Creed declares that the members of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) are equal. The council also decided that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the 21st of March.RL63757. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Cyzicus p. 647, 28 (R5); LRBC I 1169; SRCV IV 16623; Cohen VII 12; Hunter V p. 257, 12 var. (1st officina), EF, well centered, some silvering remains, weight 3.085 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 135o, 2nd officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 324 - 325 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, branch pointed down in right, raising pallium with left, SMKB in exergue; rare; SOLD
Helena, Augusta, 8 Nov 324 - c. 330 A.D., Mother of Constantine the Great, Error Coin with Fausta Reverse
This coin combines an obverse of Constantine the Great's mother Helena, with a reverse of his wife, Fausta - a very rare mule error coin.SL85519. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Alexandria obv. 38 (Helena, R3) / rev. 39 (Fausta, R2), NGC Ch XF, strike 5/5, surface 2/5, weight 3.024 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 0o, 2nd officina, Alexandria mint, 325 - 326 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, pearl-diademed and mantled bust of Helena right wearing double necklace; reverse SALVS REIPVBLICAE (health of the Republic), Fausta standing facing, looking left, holding infants Constantine II and Constantius II, SMALB in exergue; photos were taken before certification, now in an NGC holder; very rare; SOLD
Helena is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches and famed for her piety. Her feast day as a saint of the Orthodox Christian Church is celebrated with her son on May 21, the "Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostles." Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on August 18. Her feast day in the Coptic Orthodox Church is on 9 Pashons. Eusebius records the details of her pilgrimage to Palestine and other eastern provinces (though not her discovery of the True Cross). She is the patron saint of new discoveries.RL57062. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Alexandria 38 (R3); LRBC I 1406; SRCV IV 16629; Cohen VII 12; Hunter V p. 258, 17 var. (2nd officina), Choice aEF, weight 3.648 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Alexandria mint, 325 - 326 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, pearl-diademed and mantled bust right wearing double necklace; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, branch pointed downward in right hand, raising pallium with left hand, SMALA in exergue; rare; SOLD
The cross was rarely used in early Christian iconography, perhaps because it symbolized a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution that most early Christians would have personally witnessed. In 315, Constantine abolished crucifixion as punishment in the Roman Empire. The Ichthys, or fish symbol, was used by early Christians. Constantine adopted the Chi-Rho Christ monogram (Christogram) as his banner (labarum). The use of a cross as the most prevalent symbol of Christianity probably gained momentum after Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, traveled to the Holy Land, c. 326 - 328, and recovered the True Cross.RL79443. Billon reduced centenionalis, RIC VIII Trier 42 (S), LRBC I 104, Voetter 9, SRCV V 17491, Cohen VII 5, Hunter V 1 var. (1st officina), EF, well centered on a tight flan, obverse die break, weight 1.447 g, maximum diameter 14.5 mm, die axis 0o, 2nd officina, Treveri (Trier, Germany) mint, 337 - 340 A.D.; obverse FL IVL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and mantled bust right wearing necklace; reverse PAX PVBLICA, Pax standing left, olive branch pointed down in right hand, long scepter transverse in left hand, cross lower left, TRS in exergue; scarce; SOLD
Helena is a saint in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches and famed for her piety. Her feast day as a saint of the Orthodox Christian Church is celebrated with her son on May 21, the "Feast of the Holy Great Sovereigns Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostles." Her feast day in the Roman Catholic Church falls on August 18. Her feast day in the Coptic Orthodox Church is on 9 Pashons. Eusebius records the details of her pilgrimage to Palestine and other eastern provinces (though not her discovery of the True Cross). She is the patron saint of new discoveries.RL04496. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Alexandria 48 (R4), LRBC I 1417, SRCV IV 16631, Cohen VII 12, Hunter V -, gem uncirculated, weight 2.87 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, die axis 180o, 2nd officina, Alexandria mint, 327 - 328 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and mantled bust right wearing double necklace; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, branch pointed downward in right hand, raising pallium with left hand, wreath left, B right, SMAL in exergue; from the Aiello Collection; rare; SOLD
In 337 A.D., Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeeded their father Constantine I and ruled as co-emperors. The Roman Empire was divided between the three Augusti. A number of descendants of Constantius Chlorus, including the caesar Delmatius, as well as officials of the Roman Empire, were executed. The three Augusti denied responsibility for the purge.RL63718. Billon reduced centenionalis, RIC VIII Constantinople 33 (same legend breaks); LRBC I 1046 (same); Hunter V p. 281, 3 (HEL-ENAE); SRCV V 17497; Cohen VII 4, EF, weight 1.150 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 0o, 5th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 9 Sep 337 - spring 340 A.D.; obverse FL IVL HE-LENAE AVG, diademed and draped bust right; reverse PAX PVBLICA•, Pax standing left, olive branch pointed down in right hand, long scepter transverse in left hand, CONSE in exergue; SOLD
Edward Gibbon wrote of Antioch: "Fashion was the only law, pleasure the only pursuit, and the splendor of dress and furniture was the only distinction of the citizens of Antioch. The arts of luxury were honored, the serious and manly virtues were the subject of ridicule, and the contempt for female modesty and reverent age announced the universal corruption of the capital of the East." Antioch was, paradoxically, also an important hub of early Christianity. Late in 311, an embassy from Antioch presented themselves before Maximinus and requested permission to banish Christians from their city. Maximinus initially agreed, but in May 313 restored privileges and property to Christians.RL97852. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Antioch 82 (R4), LRBC I 1328, Cohen VII 12, SRCV 16628, Hunter V 14 var. (2nd officina), Choice aEF, excellent centering, attractive desert patina, light scratches, weight 3.272 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 0o, 10th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 328 - 329 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, pearl-diademed, draped and mantled bust right, wearing necklace; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, olive branch pointed down in right hand, raising pallium with left hand, •SMANTI in exergue; from a Norwegian collection; rare; SOLD
Helena gave birth to the future emperor Constantine I on 27 February of an uncertain year soon after 270 (probably around 272). At the time, she was in Naissus (Nis, Serbia). In order to obtain a wife more consonant with his rising status, Constantius divorced Helena some time before 289, when he married Theodora, Maximian's daughter under his command. (The narrative sources date the marriage to 293, but the Latin panegyric of 289 refers to the couple as already married). Helena and her son were dispatched to the court of Diocletian at Nicomedia, where Constantine grew to be a member of the inner circle. Helena never remarried and lived for a time in obscurity, though close to her only son, who had a deep regard and affection for her.SH47516. Billon centenionalis, RIC VII Cyzicus p. 646, 28 (R3); LRBC I 1169; SRCV IV 16623; Cohen VII 12; Hunter V p. 257, 12 var. (1st officina), Choice EF, very attractive near black patina with earthen fill, weight 2.769 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 0o, 4th officina, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 324 - 325 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right, wearing two strand pearl necklace; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, branch pointed down in right, raising pallium with left, SMKΔ in exergue; scarce; SOLD
On 11 May 330, Constantine I refounded Byzantium, renamed it New Rome, and moved the capital of the Roman Empire there from Rome. The city soon became known as Constantinopolis.RL04492. Billon reduced centenionalis, Hunter V p. 281, 2 (also 1st officina); RIC VIII Trier 63; LRBC I 112; SRCV V 17493; Cohen VII 4, superb about uncirculated, weight 2.150 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Treveri (Trier, Germany) mint, 337 - 340 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and mantled bust right wearing necklace; reverse PAX PVBLICA, Pax standing left, olive branch pointed down in right hand, long scepter transverse in left hand, •TRP• in exergue; from the Aiello Collection; SOLD
On 20 May 325, Constantine I summoned an ecumenical council of bishops in Nicaea (the First Council of Nicaea). The Nicene Creed declares that the members of the Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) are equal. The council also decided that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the 21st of March.RL52203. Billon centenionalis, Hunter V p. 257, 13 (also 6th officina); RIC VII Antioch p. 690, 75; LRBC I 1341; SRCV IV 16627; Cohen VII 12, aEF, weight 3.107 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 135o, 6th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 326 - 327 A.D.; obverse FL HELENA AVGVSTA, diademed and mantled bust right, wearing necklace, single string of pearls diadem; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE (security of the Republic), Securitas standing half left, branch pointed down in right, raising pallium with left, SMANTS in exergue; rare; SOLD
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