Show your Constantine's

There are so many interesting and cool varieties posted already so I'll just post one of my favorites----the 'eyes to heaven' type, struck circa 328 AD with the 'Victory seated on a cippus' reverse (small low pillar):

 

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Every time Dafne coins come up I feel compelled to quote a bit of my essay on these from a previous post, as they constitute some of the earliest Christian symbolism on Roman coinage...

Anyone even slightly familiar with Roman coin designs would have to ask, "Why should Daphne appear on a coin?" She is a very minor figure in Greek mythology, a Naiad, a nymph associated with bodies of freshwater. Her only claim to fame is that she resolutely rejected the advances of Apollo. But therein lies her importance on these coins.


Apollo and Dafne by Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Barnini, source: Galeria Borghese.

When Constantine first began rebuilding Byzantium in 326, as a memorial to his victories, there was no intention of moving the Roman capitol. Constantinople was simply rebuilt within its old, Severan walls. But by 328, the project was extended to eight times the size of the older city. Constantine systematically stripped Roman temples of their valuables and used them to adorn the new Christian city. In this context of anti-paganism, the representation of Daphne makes much more sense.

"The coinage of this mint with CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE reverse was produced as the exclusive type for Constantine at this mint for more than the last two years before the city's dedication, but it was never produced elsewhere. Its special significance was admirably demonstrated by McGregor (SAN 1984) in his article Constantiniana Dafne - a different point of view. McGregor set out the religious significance of this reverse type - portraying Constantine as Dafne, turning away from the symbols of the pagan religion (Apollo and Sol) toward the palm, the symbol of Christianity." (Speck, Huston)

 

Many thanks for the post!! I have taken the liberty of 'copying' it for future use

 

I am not sure if those are all "Eyes to Heaven". I think that he had to say to his mother Helena...

"Ma, AGAIN? You want me to build another basilica??? Where at this time?..."

 

I would like to link to my page on DAFNE types
http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com//DAFNE/

and point out that this type is really just a continuation of Constantine's victory over Licinius coinage that was issued at Constantinople. Dafne in Greek has another meaning as victory and CONSTANTINIANA is used as an adjective so the legend translates as "Constantinian Victory"

So the DAFNE types finished the series commemorating the second Civil War with Licinius. A bit from RIC about the earlier issues-

“Four entirely new types were created for Constantine, GLORIA EXERCITVS, GLORIA ROMANORVM, LIBERTAS PVBLICA, and SPES PVBLIC…Here the reverses record a summing up of the Civil War II, the glory of the army constituting the glory of the Empire, the death of the tyrant (SPES PVBLIC) granting liberty for all.” RIC VII pg 567.

This issue also has nothing to do with a fort being built and note that Victory does not actually hold a palm branch in each hand, but laurel in right and palm in left. Voetter recognized this as early as 1921, but Bruun did not notice the difference for RIC VII.

 

Beautiful page, a pleasure to read! Do you think there's any merit to McGregor's interpretation, that Dafne is turning away from the symbols of paganism, toward the symbol of Christianity? Or is that looking for shapes in the clouds?

 

I liked the McGregor article, but it is a little heavy on fanciful interpretation. The DAFNE type must be looked at in context with the previous Civil War commemorative coinage it replaced. I don't believe that there is really any religious symbolism on the reverse, just a summation of his victory over Licinius. I do say on my page that maybe the reverse alluded to a change in his spirituality, but that is just a maybe. Same as the Victory may have been seen as an angel.

 

I have to confess that very often I overlook Constantine's coins : too many ? too common ? Whatever, but when I stop and take time there are some gems !!


Constantine the Great, as Ceasar, Follis struck in Trier, 1st officina, in 306-307 AD
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C, Laureate and draped bust of Constantine right
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia. S A in field, PTR at exergue
9.21 gr, 29 mm
Ref : RC #3833, Cohen #218



Constantine the Great, Follis struck in Trier, 1st officina
IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Constantine right
MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI, Mars walking right, holding spear and shield. S A in field, PTR at exergue
7.40 gr, 26 mm
Ref : RC #3864, Cohen #368



Constantine the Great, Follis Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina, c. AD 311
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right
VIRTVTIE-XERCITVS Mars/Virtus advancing right in military dress, holding transverse spear and shield ; trophy over shoulder. B in right field. SMN in exergue.
4.88 gr, 22 mm
RIC-, C-, Roman coins -
RIC lists this type only for Licinius and Maximinus . "Iovi Conservatori and Virtuti Exercitus both appear for Licinius and Maximinus, emissions for the former being the more scarce: coinage for Constantine is extremely rare. Date, c. 311". Coin should be listed after NICOMEDIA 70c.
Please see Victor Clarks website for further information at :http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/unlisted/



Constantine the Great, Follis No mint mark, attributed to Treveri
CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right
SOLI INVICTO COMITI, radiate and draped bust of Sol right
3.63 gr
Ref : Cohen # 514, Roman coins IV # 3867



Constantine the great, AE 3 struck in Rome, 2nd officina
CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate head of Constantine right
D N CONSTANTINI MAX AV, VOT XXX in a laurel wreath, RS at exergue
2.93 gr
Ref : Cohen #129, RC #3874 var

Q

 

Constantine The Great, AE3 struck in Ticinium, 3rd officina
IMP CONSTAN - TINVS MAX AVG, Draped, cuirassed bust of Constantinus right, wearing laureate helmet
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP, Two victories, holding shield on wich is written VOT/PR, resting on cippus. TT at exergue
3.2 gr
Ref : RC #3883 var



Constantine the Great, Posthumous AE3 Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina
D V CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG, veiled bust right
Anepigraph, Constantine the great in a Quadriga right, SMNS at exergue
2.19 gr
Ref : Cohen # 760, LRBC # 1132



Constantinopolis, AE 3 struck in Siscia, 2nd officina
CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Helmeted Constantinopolis left
Anepigraph, Victory left leaning on shield, BSIS at exergue
2.64 gr
Ref : RC #3890 var, Cohen #21



Urbs Roma, AE 3 struck in Siscia, 3rd officina, ca. AD 330-333
VRBS ROMA, Helmeted Roma left
Anepigraph, She wolf suckling twins Remus and Romulus, two stars in field, gamma SIS at exergue
2.34 gr
Ref : RC #3894, Cohen #17, RIC # 222

Q

 

You have some mighty LRB's @Cucumbor

 

I chose the same coin of Constantine in a Quadriga, along with another one commemorating possibly the battle of the Milvian Bridge( Cohen 558).

 

here's an old pick up of mine, one of my fav Constantine coins...




here's a new one with a funky nose die break..

 

=> Table, Table, Table!!!

 

I've taken on a little side collection of commemorative's during Constantine's time. I grab them when I see them if there's budget room.
Some have been posted before others I don't have in hand yet.
The last pic is a campgate, the only non commemorate.

 

I can see your anguish steve, will my table do (complete with salt and some other unidentified object top right) until chrsmat71 comes good again?

 

Here is my first (and thus far only) Ancient and my first post here


Constantine I Silvered Æ3 Follis. Nicomedia, Officina 1 AD 328-9.
Obv: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG - Pearl-diademed head right.
Rev: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG - Campgate with six stone layers, no door, two turrets and a star above.
SMNA in exergue. 2.58g, 17.5mm. Remnant silvering.
RIC VII NICOMEDIA 153

 

nice first ancient, welcome!

 

Very nice coins dlhill132

 

Welcome and nice first ancient!