it's a very small coin; I didn't have a coin with this legend, which is only to be found on coins of Constantine I and Licinius I: SAPIENTIA, “wisdom, philosophy, perfection of intellect and character” Æ Fraction (quarter Follis) Rome, 313 AD Mintmark RT, 3rd officina; struck under the authority of Licinius 13 mm, 0.8 g RIC VII 16; Ob.: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG bare head to r. Rev.: SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS Altar with owl, spear across altar, shield to left and helmet to r. RT in exergue Ex. @gsimonel, Glenn Simonelli, at http://feltemp.com/Constantine_1.html (#47) from Victor’s Imperial Coins 7/22/2019; Picture courtesy @gsimonel Please share your Sapientia coins or anything relevant
I remember that coin! In A.D. 313, a set of three fractional coins was issued from Rome and Trier for both Constantine and Licinius. These small coins were probably distributed to the citizens as part of the Imperial largesse. A few things may have possibly been referenced by these coins, but they obviously commemorated peace in the Empire. This time of peace was the culmination of many events—Constantine defeated Maxentius, Maximinus had died, Constantine’s sister married Licinius and cemented peace between the two rulers, and in A.D. 313, Constantine and Licinius signed the Edict of Milan. FVNDAT PACIS Mars advancing right with trophy over left shoulder, captive seated behind him RIC VII Rome 12 GLORIA PERPET Two victories advancing right, both holding wreath and branch, standard between them RIC VII Rome 14 SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS Altar with owl, spear across altar, shield to left and helmet to right. RIC VII Rome 16 The FVNDAT and GLORIA coins are half-folles and the SAPIENT is a quarter-follis. This quarter follis is the smallest coin that Constantine issued. The owl on the SAPIENT coin had long been a symbol of wisdom through association with Minerva; but the owl was also a symbol of good luck. According to Zosimus, before Constantine fought Maxentius, “an infinite number of owls flew down and covered the wall.” Of course, the owls were bad luck for Maxentius! These were struck under the authority of Constantine I, who was ruler in the West.
Your last picture is from another set of fractional coins issued a bit earlier. Constantine I AD 312-13 half follis 17mm 2.5gm FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG laureate and cuirassed bust right. PACI PERPET; Pax stg. facing, head l., r. holding branch, l. standard; in left field XII. in ex. RP RIC VI Rome 356 Constantine I A.D. 312- 313 2/3 follis 19x20mm 3.3g FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right seen from the rear. VIRT EXE-RCIT GALL; Virtus standing left, looking right, right leaning on spear, left holding parazonium; In left field X, in right field VI. In exergue RT RIC VI Rome 360 This coin praises the Gallic army for bravery in defeating Maxentius http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/fractions/
Thank you @Victor_Clark, will correct my notes; however, at http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.7.rom.16 they say Licinus that's were I got it from
These Constantine and Licinius Sapientia Principis coins are very interesting. The owl on an altar, with a helmet, a shield and a transverse spear on the ground, are all attributes of the goddess Minerva. These coins were minted c. 313. Twelve years later, in 325, Constantine will refound Byzantium as Constantinopolis and order the building of two sanctuaries dedicated to Εἰρήνη (Pax) and Σοφία (Sapientia). At this time Constantine favoured Christians but was not himself a Christian (he will be baptized only on his deathbed), and is not certain these two temples were supposed to be churches from the beginning. Under his son Constantius II, an Arian Christian, they were consecrated as Hagia Eirene (Saint Irene or Holy Peace) and Hagia Sophia (Saint Sophia or Holy Wisdom). The coins of 313 with Sapientia Principis are a pagan view of this Holy Wisdom, represented not as some anthropomorphic allegory or deity, but through the attributes of Minerva. There is also a rare solidus version of this reverse type : (not my coin of course) I don't know who determined which reverse type was best to illustrate the abstract notion of "Sapientia Principis". He drew inspiration from old quadrantes minted two and a half centuries ago under Nero : (not my coin) The legend is a single formula to be read on obverse first, then on reverse : NERO CLAV CAE AVG GER / P M TR P IMP P P - S C. This suggests the obverse and reverse types must be brought together, while on Constantinian coins all the elements are grouped in a single reverse type.
