Ancient Rome: Constantine II AE Follis, London Mint

Oh, I own coins of all kinds of despicable people. Hard to avoid with ancients. But it's a question of where I want to focus my primary collecting interest. Perhaps it should be on someone I genuinely admire.

Actually, this might be a good topic for a new thread.

 

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Amen!!

Not my main area of collecting but I've kept a few of Constantine.

 

I think it is important not to confuse the actions of parts of "Christianity" adopted for political reasons by Constantine, with Christianity as a whole. Even in the case of Constantine and his successors, very little of Classical culture was destroyed by them, although there were isolated cases of of cultural vandalism. However, most of the lost Classical culture was lost due to the invasions, sacking and burning by pre-Christian barbarians. The Vandals didn't lend their name to the word for "ignorant destruction" by chance. It is also true that many of the Classical works that have survived, have only done so because they were preserved by Christian monks and scholars.

 

Yeah, thanks for preserving a few texts after burning down the entire Library of Alexandria

 

"[W]hen the enemy endeavored to cut off his communication by sea, he was forced to divert that danger by setting fire to his own ships, which, after burning the docks, thence spread on and destroyed the great library."

— Plutarch, Life of Caesar, 48 BC

 

These Constantine follaro are fascinating...
...I designed a label for a 2.5 by 2.5 inch flip. This is one of the coins that I acquired rather unintentionally. The detail on this one impressed me so much that I purchased a second of comparable appearance. I'll probably never give these away or sell them but I included the VCoinesque "guarantee of authenticity" statement for any non collectors who may become beneficiaries or recipients. Before I donate them to my nephew—he's going to have to demonstrate a sincere interest in ancient history. That's not likely!

 

those are some fine labels D Ray! nice coin too.

 

Even though people have their likes and dislikes for various rulers, I think that everyone here can agree on liking the emperor I have as my avatar

 

Palpatine's rule was marked by wisdom, grand building projects and the choice of able helpers to assist in his plan to transform a broken Republic into a thriving empire. His only failing was his inability to deal with a group of anti imperial terrorists who wished to return to the anarchy of the failed republic.

 

Very nice Const I & II @Sallent ! You pick some good'uns!

I have a couple from Const I & II, but they are pedestrian, and everyone has much better examples. (Besides, I have shown them several times.)

I really do not have much from London, but these two fill out a Roman Ruler slot and my Quinarius sub-collection...

London Mint:

RI Carausius 287-293 AE22 London mint PAX



RI Allectus 293-296 AE Quinarius London Virtus Galley AE17 2-3g S 13870 RIC 55