After the death of Constantine on 22 May 337, there was an interregnum of some three months before his three sons were proclaimed Augusti on 9 Sept 337. It was during these three months that The Great Massacre occurred, when most of the other male members of Constantine's family and their supporters were killed, including the brothers Delmatius and Hannibalianus. Constantius Gallus and Julian II were young enough to be spared. I don't know that the coins below are specifically dated to the three month period...it's more of a hypothesis. RIC dates these from 337 until the death of Constantine II in 340. Given their rarity, they had to have been struck for a very limited time and it makes sense that some special types may have been struck during that uncertain period as some feel good propaganda. The first is a wolf and twins commemorative. It looks just like the regular type, except the obverse has the addition of BEATA; so it now translates to “blessed city of Rome.” VRBS ROMA BEATA A.D. 337 17mm 2.0g Obv. VRBS ROMA BEATA; helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, wreath between two stars. In ex. branch R Q branch RIC VIII Rome 55 The Constantinopolis coin is different from the normal type for two reasons-- because it has a reverse legend of VICTORIA AVG while the normal type is anepigraphic and it also depicts Victory with a wreath and palm branch instead of the regular sceptre and shield. I believe that the reverse legend coupled with the new attributes of Victory are meant to reassure the citizens of Rome- Constantine's lineage was victorious --the legend VICTORIA AVG and the wreath; but now the Empire is at peace --the palm branch. Constantinopolis A.D. 337 16mm 1.5g CONSTANTINOPOLIS; laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter. VICTORIA AVG; Victory stg. on prow, holding wreath and palm frond. in ex. R palm Є RIC VIII Rome 42 Some reading on the topic…including the article that I borrowed the title from-- Burgess, R.W. THE SUMMER OF BLOOD. The "Great Massacre" of 337 and the Promotion of the Sons of Constantine. Dumbarton Oaks Papers 62, 2008. Woods, David. “Numismatic Evidence and the Succession to Constantine I.” Numismatic Chronicle 171 (2011): 187- 196.
Great coins and background! Will definitely check out those readings I had no idea those two city commemorative types existed. Those are really fantastic coins! The Constantinian Dynasty really is so fascinating. It really makes you glad not to have been born into nobility in the classical world. Then again, maybe things were even worse for members of the higher administrative and senatorial ranks, and their families... I'm fond of this Hannibalianus which must have been one of the last coins purchased by Elvira Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001). I think it's the latest recorded purchase I've seen (CNG XXVII, 29 Sep 1993, Lot 42, “Important Collection of Armenian Coinage"): Some of my DELMATIVS & DALMATIVS obverses... expandable for any who feel like clicking... The is the best of the DEL spellings (there are two DAL in there): For whatever reason, back during the glory days of uncleaned coins, I used to pull out bunches of the VOT & GLORIA EX type City Commemoratives and still have many. (And still never even heard of the rarities posted above!) People used to refer to them as "mules" back then, but that claim always seemed suspect, given that I could personally recover dozens without even trying very hard. Looks like a couple could still use more cleaning: I hesitate to even show them, but if not now, when else would I? Well, I'll leave these as a thumbnail too, for any who want to see these 20 enough to click -- all four combinations of Urbs/Constantinopolis X GLORIA/VOT:
