Hi all, Just got this Follis today. I Like the contrast, and thought the mintmark was interesting. Never seen this MM before. Sounds like a sad story about Crispus. Do you think Fausta framed him as the story goes? CRISPUS 317-326 AD Æ3 Roman Bronze Coin Obverse legend: CRISPVS NOB CAES (laureate head only)Reverse legend: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM (wreath enclosing VOT V)RIC VII 241 - Arelatum Mintmark(Tstar-in-crescentA) (Arles, France)(e94) Flavius Julius Crispus was the son of Constantine I by his first wife. A brilliant soldier, Crispus was well loved by all until 326 A.D., when Constantine had him executed. It is said that Fausta, Crispus stepmother, anxious to secure the succession for her own sons falsely accused Crispus of raping her. Constantine, learning of Fausta's treachery, had her executed too. Diameter: 18,4 mmWeight: 3,11 g
Days of our lives (NBC)?......Happens all the time in the 'Naked City'......... Real life too, but that's usually kept under the radar........folks that don't need to know, never know.
Ya, it seem's some things never change...I noticed the S is missing in Crispus, wonder why. Damaged die maybe?
There was a paper or article I read recently about the execution of Crispus and Fausta and it having to do with political intrigues. If I remember what it was... How about my latest Crispus? Crispus Caesar, AD 317-326 Ӕ Follis, 18m, 3.1g, 6h; London mint, AD 318 Obv.: FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Rev.: PRINCIPIA I-VVENTVTIS; Crispus standing right in military dress, holding spear and shield, crescent in left field In Ex.: PLN Here's mine like yours: Crispus, AD 317 - 326 AE, follis, 3.01g, 19mm; 6h; Aquileia mint Obv.: CRISPVS NOB CAES; laureate, cuirassed bust right Rev.: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM, VOT / (dot) / V in laurel wreath In Ex.: (dot) A[Q]S (dot)
That's cold blooded for sure. I read she got her dues... boiled alive in a overheated bath? Very nice coins there, really like that reverse as a soldier.
Neat mintmark. CRISPUS (317 - 326 A.D.) Æ(S) FOLLIS O: IVL CRIS-PVS NOB C, Laureate head right. R: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM, VOT X in wreath, mintmark Delta SIS sunburst in ex. 3.8g 20mm Sisca Mint RIC-181D
Crispus was poisoned. Fausta was suffocated in an overheated sauna. Not exactly boiled. The sources are murky; some assert that she and her stepson Crispus plotted treason together and even had an affair. Others say Crispus made advances to Fausta and was denounced by her and then executed, but Constantine came to regret the execution, fearing he had been misled.
Here is my Fausta. Fausta (324-326 A.D) AE3 O: FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG Mantled bust right. Bare headed; waved hair drawn into a bun at the back. R: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE Fausta standing facing, head left, holding Constantine II and Constantius II as babies. STR dot-in-crescent Trier RIC 483 3.15g 19mm
Thanks man! I really wanted it because of the reverse and even more so as a companion coin to his half brother... Constantine II AE Reduced follis, 18mm, 3.1g; 6h; London, 318 AD Obv.: FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN NC; Bust laureate, draped cuirassed, seen from back Rev.: PRINCIPIA I-VVENTVTIS; Prince in military dress, standing right, cloak spread, leaning on reversed vertical spear, hand resting on shield; crescent right In Ex.: PLN
Good stuff! I'm working on the Constantinian Dynasty too. Interesting History .Finally found a niche to chip away at.
We can really do no more than speculate. I'd also suggest that this period of Roman history would make a fantastic TV miniseries. Here's a great page on the whole Crispus-Fausta episode: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/Articles/Crispus/Crispus.htm My favorite Crispus coin:
Happy as the devil there ain't no women like that in my life......my wife may want to kill me at times, but she re-thinks things in the long run, and loves me all the same. I think.
