the captive from Rome shows numismatic evidence of the civil war between Constantine and Licinius. There were two other Sol types struck in this period (A.D. 316- 317) and these two, along with the captive type, were only struck in the name of Constantine. Constantine I A.D. 316 18x19mm 3.5gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped, cuirassed SOLI INVICTO COMITI DN; Sol rad., stg. L., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder. in left field *, in right crescent. In exergue RT RIC VII Rome 46 Constantine I A.D. 316 20x21mm 3.5 gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG laureate, draped, cuirassed SOLI INVICT COM DN Sol rad., stg. L., raising r. hand, Victory on globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder. in left field *, in right crescent. In exergue RQ RIC VII Rome 49
So Victor, do you think that by adding the DN in the reverse legend Constantine was claiming the exclusive favor of Sol? Interesting for someone who had supposedly converted to Christianity by that time. Hedging his bets, perhaps?
Beautiful OP. Excellent detail. Captives pop up unexpectedly on some other coins of Constantine, too. Here's an example of the well-known Jupiter type with a captive: Bronze half nummus Nicomedia mint, A.D. 321-324 RIC 43 Obv: IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI - Jupiter, leaning on eagle-tipped scepter, holding Victory on globe; eagle with wreath at feet to right, captive to left SMNB in exergue; X over IIM (truncated) in right field 19 mm, 2.7 g. And one of my favorite appearances of captives, in the exergue, of all places: Lugdunum (Lyons) mint, A.D. 320 RIC 79 (var.) Obv: CON-STANTINVS AVG Rev: VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP - Two Victories holding shield inscribed VOT/PR above altar P[2 captives]L in exergue 19 mm, 3.2 g.
SOL: REPUBLIC: RR Mussidius Longus 42 BCE AR Den Rad Sol Platform CLOACIN S 494 Cr494-42 EMPIRE: RI Maximinus II Daia 305-308 CE AE20 Genius stndg bust of Sol cornu star H RIC IV 164b
This is a nice example of a fun type. There were several in the Bag o Romans and they were all a little different,which made them interesting.
I have the two captives surrounding a standard type: Uncleaned hoard coin, with a hole punched in it...
CAPTIVES: Roman REPUBLIC: RR Cloelius 98 BC Quinarius Jupiter F dots Victory Gaul captive Q Cr 332-1c S212 RR Fundanius AR Quinarius 101 BCe Marius triumph Jupiter E control Victory captive carnyx Q Sear 205 Craw 326-2 RR Gellius 138 BCE AR Den Roma wreath Mars female captive Quadriga Sear 109 Cr 232-1 RR Aemilius Lepidus Paullus 62 BCE Concordia Perseus Macedon captive Sear 366 Craw 415-1
I don't think that Constantine was responsible for this legend change, or even knew about it. He appointed mint supervisors who oversaw details like this. This was perhaps a clever way of honoring Constantine and paganism at the same time, while not really deviating from the standard Sol issues. Constantine was not even in Rome during the years 316-17; he left in Sept. 315, long before hostilities had begun. Rome was a bit of a special case though, given quite a bit of latitude concerning pagan ideals, nicely evidenced by the continuing yearly issue of Festival of Isis coinage, some rare examples with Constantine on the obverse.
