Constantine I, The Great             307 - 337 A.D.

 

One of the great Roman emperors, Constantine rose to power when his father Constantius Chlorus died in the year 306 while campaigning against Scottish tribes. He later went on to defeat the rival emperor Maxentius in the decisive battle of Milvian Bridge in 312. He is credited for several great landmarks in history and is probably best memorialized by the city that bore his name for hundreds of years: Constantinople. Although now renamed Istanbul, this city was to be the seat of power for all Byzantine emperors for the next 1100 years. Constantine is also remembered as the first Roman emperor who embraced Christianity and instituted the buildings and papal dynasty that eventually grew into what is today the Vatican and the Pope.

The latter part of his life saw his commitment to the church rise in step with the increasing repression against old-school paganism. He left behind several sons who would, after his death, turn on each other and generally undo much of the stability that Constantine had fought so hard to bring about.

 

AE3 310--337 A.D.

Ticinum

19 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS AVG: Helmeted bust right

Rev. BEATA TRANQVILLITAS: Altar inscribed VOTIS XX; STM in exergue

Ob. SR 3871v., Rev. SR 3870; Van Meter 74

AE3 310--337 A.D.

Constantinople

19 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG: Diademed and draped bust right

Rev. CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE: Victory seated left, looking right; kneeling captive and trophy left, B in left field, CONS in exergue (refers to the construction of a fortress at Dafne on the frontier of the Danube, ca. 328 A.D.)

Van Meter 77

AE Follis, reduced 310--337 A.D.

Antioch

19 mm.

Obv. FL VALER CONSTANTINVS PF AVG: Laureate bust right

Rev. GENIO AVGVSTI: Genius standing left, holding head of Serapis and bearing

cornucopiae; star in left field, Z in right field, ANT in exergue

Van Meter 43

AE 3/4 310-337 A.D.

Siscia

17 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS PF AVG: Laureate, draped bust right

Rev. GLORIA EXERCITVS: Two soldiers standing on either side of only one standard

Van Meter 94v.

AE3/4 310--337 A.D.

Nicomedia, Officina 1

17 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG: Diademed and draped bust right

Rev. Two soldiers standing on either side of one standard; SMNA in exergie

Van Meter 94

AE Follis, reduced 310--337 A.D.

Nicomedia

19 mm.

Obv. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG: Diademed and cuirassed bust left, holding a globe

and scepter

Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG: Jupiter standing, facing left and holding a staff and

statuette of Victory atop a globe; Olive branch in

left field, Z in right field, SMN in exergue

Van Meter 50

AE Follis 310--337 A.D.

Thessalonika

23 mm.

Obv. IMP C CONSTANTINVS PF AVG: Diademed bust right

Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN: Jupiter standing left, holding Victory, eagle at

his feet having a wreath in its beak; TS (pellet)

Sigma in exergue

Van Meter 48v.

AE3 310--337 A.D.

Nicomedia 325--326 A.D.

2.5 g., 18 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS AVG: Diademed bust right

Rev. PROVIDENTIAE AVGG: Camp-gate

RIC 121, Van Meter 85

AE3 310--337 A.D.

Cyzicus, Officina 1

19 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS AVG: Diademed bust right

Rev. PROVIDENTIAE AVGG: Camp-gate; SMKA in exergue

Van Meter 85

AE Follis, reduced 310--337 A.D.

Constantinopolis, Officina Z = 7(s) 327--328 A.D.

2.66 g., 20 mm.

Obv. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG: Laureate head right

Rev. GLORIA ROMANORVM: Roma seated left, holding scepter and Victory on globe

RIC 23, C. 263

AE Follis, reduced 310--337 A.D.

Lyon 314--315 A.D.

4.40 g., 23 mm.

Obv. IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG: Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. SOLI INVICTO COMITI: Radiate Sol standing left with globe in hand

RIC 16, MBH-354-RIA, Van Meter 63

AE 3/4 and sons, anonymous

Trier, Officina 2 commemorative issues

17 mm. 330--346 A.D.

Obv. VRBS ROMA: Helmeted head of Roma left

Rev. None: She-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, two stars above; TRS (pellet) in exergue;

celebrates the founding of Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire

and the traditional role of Rome as the cultural and moral center

RIC 524 (C3), Van Meter 2

AE 3/4 and sons, anonymous

Siscia, Officina 1 commemorative issues

17 mm. 330--346 A.D.

Obv. VRBS ROMA: Helmeted bust of Rome left

Rev. None: She-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, two stars above; (pellet) ASIS

(pellet) in exergue

Sear 3894, Van Meter 2

AE3 310--337 A.D.

Sirmium, Officina 1

18 mm.

Obv. IMP CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG: Helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Rev. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP: Two Victories placing shield inscribed

VOT P R on an altar inscribed with six-

pointed star

RIC Treveri #213, Van Meter 90v.

AE4 310--337 A.D.

Nicomedia 347--348 A.D.

13 mm.

Obv. DV CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG: Constantine's head veiled, right (Posthumous issue)

Rev. VN MR: Constantine veiled, stanging right, VN in left and MR in right fields, SMNA in exergue

RIC VIII #48, Sear 3888, Van Meter 96

Roman Imperial Constantine I

AE Follis 307-337 A.D.

22 mm. 3.51 g.

Siscia, early 313 A.D.

Obv. IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG

Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI

Jupiter standing left, holding Victory and leaning on scepter, gamma to right, eagle holding wreath to left at feet; SIS in exergue

RIC 234c

Roman Imperial Constantine I

AE Follis 307-337 A.D.

22 mm. 3.58 g.

Rome, Officina 1, 312-313 A.D.

Obv. IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG

Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Rev. SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI

Legionary eagle between two vexilla, RP in exergue

RIC 350a, Van Meter 64

Roman Imperial Constantine I, the Great

AE 3 307-337 A.D.

19 mm.

Obv. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG

Helmeted head right

Rev. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP

Two Victories placing shield inscribed with VOT P R on an altar; crescent with star within exergue

Van Meter 90 var.