Constantine the Great (his birthday, and my new favorite coin!)

Lately, I've been taking an interest in the life and times of Constantine I - an individual, and period of history, that has had a tremendous, perhaps unparalleled, impact on subsequent world history up to the present day.

Constantine himself is certainly one of the most polarizing figures in ancient history - there are virtually no truly objective historical sources about his life. They either portray Constantine as the model Christian Emperor: pious, conscientious, completely devoted to and in touch with God, or else they consider him an unstable and ruthless tyrant who was the cause of all ills. The actual truth, as might be suspected, lies somewhere in the middle. Reading about it all has been an enjoyable and educating experience - so far I have finished reading Michael Grant's book Constantine the Great: The Man and His Times and have since started Constantine the Emperor by David Potter.

Today being the 1,751st birthday of Constantine I, I thought this might be a good time to show off a couple new coins I recently acquired. The first I will show is actually the most recent - acquired via Roma Numismatics E-Sale 106, lot 1202:



This coin shows a fine portrait of the Emperor, helmeted and cuirassed as for battle. (Even Constantine's greatest critics had to admit his superlative generalship.) The reverse is also militarily themed, showing bound and seated captives under a trophy inscribed with the VOTA for twenty years; the inscription VIRTVS EXERCIT (The Courage of the Soldiers) around the edge provides a neat summary of the coin's design. The coin itself is nicely toned and sharply struck with fine detail. There is a lot to like about the coin, and I am happy to have won it!

NOW, the other Constantine coin I recently purchased has quickly become one of my favorites in my entire collection. Some of you may know that I like to look for good portraits in Roman coins - something that becomes a little difficult when you get into the later Empire. There can be so much variety in style between mints and most of them lacking.

The mint at Rome seemed to be the most artistically inclined during this time period, and whoever engraved this die evidently extended himself, producing (IMO) one of the finest numismatic portraits of Constantine the Great I've ever seen:





What strikes me most about this portrait is its sense of majestic gravity and regal splendor. I see in it the true Constantine - Dominus Noster, Maximus Augustus - sole ruler over the largest (and still) most powerful Empire on Earth. The proportions are exquisitely executed; the detail is superb. Constantine's expression is serious and grave but not without its humanity - he almost looks like he is about to smile. Crowned with a beautifully rendered rosette diadem, cuirassed, and draped, he presents an impressive, kingly figure, surrounded by his name and titles.

The reverse is a common type but also is very attractive - well-struck (although with a few areas of flatness.) I do really like the balance and symmetry of these VOT reverse types.

The coin also has a beautiful golden tone which highlights the design.

I would love to see your favorite Constantine I coins! Feel free to post your own coins, comments, or anything else relevant!

 

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Constantine the Great (307 - 337 A.D.)
Billon centenionalis
O: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right.
R: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS (blessed tranquility), globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, •STR and crescent in exergue.
Treveri (Trier) mint, 323 A.D
3.32g
19mm
RIC VII Trier 389

 

Nicely written, there is a lot of history of Constantine, here is a good site on Constantine Constantine the Great-- History and Coins (constantinethegreatcoins.com) I liked the letters he written to the church.

 

Absolutely! That's a great site which I regularly frequent. I believe it's run by @Victor_Clark if I'm not mistaken?

 

Nicely written, Bravo!

 

Two of my favorites:

 

Yes, it is my site...a labor of love that needs improvement.

Two recent coins of mine from Constantine from London



Constantine I
A.D. 319
18mm 2.2g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P AVG; radiate and trabeate bust left; raising right hand, left holding globe.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar with star in wreath.
In ex. PLN
RIC VII London --; LMCC 9.01.019






Constantine I
A.D. 314- 315
21mm 4.0g
CONSTANTINVS P AVG; laureate and trabeate bust left.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol standing left in spread quadriga, raising right hand, globe and whip in left; S/P across fields.
In ex. MSL
RIC VII London 81/84 corr.; LMCC 8.07.030

 

Nice write up and lovely examples. I have only one coin of his

 

Nice coins, they are beautiful! I agree with you on that second one, the portrait is something rare back then, rarer still on modern coins. Here's mine, nowhere near as nice but still a good coin:
CONSTANTINE I THE GREAT AE3. Struck at ARLES, 321-322 AD. CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate head right. Reverse - D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG around wreath containing VOT XX, P (star in crescent) A in exergue. RIC 239. 19mm, 3.3g.

 

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at R S=Rome during the reign of Constantine I, The Great between 312 - 313 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.CONSTANTINVS.P.F.AVG. Rev. S.P.Q.R. OPTIMO.PRINCIPI. Legionary eagle (facing l. to r.) between two vexilla. RCS #3869. RICVI #345 pg.390. DVM #64.



Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at Rome during the reign of Constantine I, The Great in 325 A.D. Obv. IMP.CONSTANTINVS.MAX.AVG. Helmeted & cuir. bust right. Rev. VICTORIAE.LAETAE.PRINC.PERP.VOT. P.R. Two Victories resting shield, inscribed VOT.PR. on altar. RCS #3883. DVM #90.




Bronze coin (AE 3/4) minted at Alexandria during the reign of Constantine I, The Great in 330 A.D. Obv. CONSTANTINVS.MAX.AVG. diad. & cuir. bust r. Rev. GLORIA.EXERCITVS. Two Soldiers standing facing one another, each holding reversed spear and resting hand on shield; between them two standards. RCS #3886. RICVII #58. DVM #94 pg.712. LRBC #1435.

 

This one has a funny style
Constantine I, AE nummus, Alexandria (317-320)
Obv.: IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust left with globe, sceptre and mappa
Rev.: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, leaning on sceptre, globe in right hand, crescent in left field, B in right field, SMAL in exergue.

 

Constantine II, struck during the reign of Constantine I