Christian symbols on Roman coins

I have a web site on Christian symbols on AE Roman coins before 364 AD. In 364 Valentinian became emperor and Christian symbols became common.
http://esty.ancients.info/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html

Here is a type (or variety) I just added, having, because of its rarity, overlooked it before:

Note the Christian symbol chi-rho above the shield.
It is very much like the common AE2 of Magnentius and Decentius that has the shield inscribed VOT/V/MVLT/X, but this one is of Constantius II after he recovered Rome from Magnentius. His Vota number was much higher: VOT/XXX
Also, the legend used by Magnentius and Decentius
VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE(S)
was shortened to
VICT DD NN AVG ET CAES.
This coin is RIC Rome 252, "R2". The type is only from Rome and there are not many varieties as there often are of "R2" coins, so it is fair to say this is very rare.

The previous link was to the site as a whole. To see the coins much like this one, go to Table 6:

http://esty.ancients.info/Christian/ChristianTable6.html#6.3

 

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Nice coin @Valentinian! A very solid example. I just landed my first Valentinian I coin at Christmas and some of the members here were kind enough to help me ID it. It also has the Chi-rho symbol on the reverse above the labarum replete with the emperor dragging a captive away into slavery (bit of borbid irony in that). Mine is a common one and is in much worse shape than yours but I still like it!

 

Wow, you really have to hit the history books if you want to become a collector of ancient coins!

 

Our member @Victor_Clark has an excellent site on early Christian symbols on Roman coins:
http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/symbols/

 

That's a good part of the fun. We *want* to learn about our coins. CoinTalk is a great place to begin, but history and numismatic books help bring the coins alive.

 

Absolutely! I read for several months before buying my first ancient coin.

 

That's some dedication I must say. Although if I remember correctly from the other thread wasn't your first coin a beautiful Nero denarius? A beautiful coin that is worth every minute of research

 

CONSTANS
AE2
OBVERSE: D N CONSTANS P F AVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding globe
REVERSE: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Constans standing left holding chi-rho banner in right and resting left on shield, two bound captives wearing Phrygian helmets standing to left, ASIS in ex
Struck at Siscia 348-350 AD
3.93g, 20mm
RIC VIII 224

CONSTANTIUS II
AE4
OBVERSE: CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, laureate & rosette-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers holding spears & shields, one standard between them; chi-rho on banner, dot DSIS dot in ex.
Struck at Siscia 337-341 AD
1.50 g, 17 mm
RIC VIII 102

 

Thanks for posting this, Valentinian.

I want to start getting more coins with Christian symbols on them.

Thanks to you, I got my first one last year!

Erin

 

Love this site. Love learning new things about ancient coins and history

 

Great post! Fascinating! I'm planning to add more Roman coins to my collection in 2017 and ones with Christian symbols may be a great avenue. I'm definitely going to start looking out for Constantius II and Magnentius varieties.

 

From an uncleaned lot that kept me busy much of 2016.
Constans and Constantius II Centenionales, GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS types with a Chi-Rho monogram on the standard.

Constans:


Siscia mint, AD 337-340
1.41 gm; 15.7 mm
RIC 99; Sear 18546; LRBC 774; Cohen 65


Constantius II:

Constantinople mint, AD 337-340 (2 examples)
RIC 27; Sear 17994; LRBC --; Cohen 102


Siscia mint, AD 337-340
1.51 gm; 17.6 mm
RIC 101; Sear 17991; LRBC 782; Cohen 100
(This is virtually the same coin as @Bing 's example, but the diadem is different, hence the different RIC #.)

 

Thanks @Valentinian ... I have a few, of which, I know that a few came from you...


RI Gratian 367-383 CE AE 17mm Reduced Folles Emp Stdg w Shield and XP banner labarum


RI Gratian 367-383 CE AE 17mm Reduced Folles Leading captive XP banner labarum


RI Constans 337-350 AE3 19mm Thesalonika mint Reparatio stdg CHI RHO banner


RI Delmatius 335-337 CE Quarter Folles CHI RHO banner flanked by 2 soldiers Sear 3131


RI Delmatius 335-337 CE Quarter Folles CHI RHO banner flanked by 2 soldiers

 

Even though it was minted after Valentinian made Christian iconography de rigueur, my favorite is this AE 4 of Theodosius I, from AD 388-392. It bears a Christogram in the field at left.

It's my favorite because the reverse seems to depict Princess Leia and R2D2! Above her left arm hovers Admiral Ackbar's Victory-class star destroyer.

 

I chose young Valens and Theodosius II with a clear cross on reverses of both coins.

 

Close...it was an Otho. The one in my avatar.

 

At this period, several of the 'rare' coins can be explained by a type normal or common for one ruler being used/adapted for another. In some cases, the coins were issued in the name of a competitor during a time of truce. In others we wonder if the mint knew there was a new man in charge but did not know what reverse they should use. A favorite of mine in this category is the Trier Chi Rhos issued in the name of Constantius II. These, especially with their Alpha and Omega flanking the Chi Rho, was really inappropriate for the very Arian Constantius. They were not an accidental mule because the reverse legend is different (SALVS AVG NOSTRI instead of SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES). The type emphasized the significance of Christ from the very beginning to the very end which was the orthodox view and not that of the Arians who emphasized the humanity rather than the divinity of Christ. Magnentius is said to have been a Pagan and used the type to cater favor from orthodox Christians who could be expected to prefer a Pagan like Magnentius to a heretical Christian like Constantius.


An Arles Magnentius for comparison


The best of the type IMHO come from Amiens but you should hold out for one with a more full flan than mine.

 

That's rigt now I remember. A very impressive first purchase

 

Found this one in my "attributable but nowhere clean enough yet" pile.


Valentinian I
Roman AE 3 Centenionalis
Siscia mint, AD 367-375
2.10 gm; 18.7 mm
Obv: DN VALENTINI-ANVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Valentinian, in military attire, advancing right, head left, dragging captive by the hair with right hand and holding labarum with chi-rho symbol in left. Q in left field; K above P in right field. BSISCV in exergue.
Refs: RIC 14(a) xxix; Sear 19451; Cohen 12

 

Good ol' Nancy => bringin' the sweet Chi-rho!!