POLL: Chi-Rho? Tau-Rho? Latin Cross? Equilateral Cross?

I'm fairly sure I know the answer, but admittedly it's just my best educated guess. A conclusive/scientific answer would require a massive amount of data well beyond what I have, or that I could process even if I had it.

Please don't nail me on terms or semantics. (Pun intended.) I know about the Staurogram, which for my intents and purposes is a Tau-Rho. I know about the Iota-Chi, which so very rarely appears on coins that it wouldn't be in the running for #1. I know about the Patriarchal Cross with two horizontal bars, which also appears so infrequently that it wouldn't be in the running for #1. Etc. Oh! And I know about the terms Christogram and Chrismon. Enough caveats? ;-)

I'll post my answer at the end of the 7-day poll, and will not allow the poll results to deter me from revealing the answer I now presume to be true - no matter how far wrong the poll proves me to have been. :-o Warning: Sorry, once you vote, you can't change it. At the end of the 7-day poll I will post which emblem received the most votes, but until then you have to vote to be able to see which emblem is winning. :-D

OK, enough from me. What do you all think? Based on YOUR knowledge and experience combined, which of the 4 listed basic emblems seems most prevalent on Roman coins during the stated time period?

 

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I voted Chi-Rho for no other reason than that is a very prominent image in my church and I love it.... Hows that for scientific?

 

Thanks to all who voted! I'm genuinely appreciative to have had 10 participate!

As promised I'm showing the results so that all current and future CT'ers can see:


So, per the poll, to some degree "HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS" came into play. ;-)
Chi-Rho was victorious! Moreover, after doing some DEEP diving (including but not limited to AI assisted research), the Chi-Rho truly seems to deserve first place. So kudos to those who voted accordingly!

Also as promised, I'll reveal my hunch: It was Chi-Rho. (But since I have handled SO many AE4's with Christian emblems/symbols/monograms, I honestly suspected that the Tau-Rho may be a close 2nd to Chi-Rho. But it seems that is not the case. Chi-Rho has no close 2nd on Roman coins in the stated time period.)

FWIW: The earliest coin in my collection with one of the 4 poll possibilities, was struck in 318/319, in the first half of Constantine's reign. As you can see it includes a Cross. (I bought it from Zach/"Beast" over 16 years ago.)

 

This is the first time the Chi-Rho appeared on bronze coinage



Constantine I
A.D. 319
18mm 2.8g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG -- high crested helmet with Chi-Rho, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm decorated with horseman leaping over fallen enemy.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield (wreath) inscribed VOT PR on altar.
in ex. BSIS•
RIC VII Siscia 61

 

I liked your post of this coin, but would like to give 99 more! (That's one of two coin types I've been "keeping an eye out" for the past 10+ years.)

Is it in your collection? If so, I up my likes from 99 additional to 999 additional!
Especially since it's such a gorgeous, high quality specimen! Insert *drool* here.

 

Yes, it is mine. I collect VLPP from Siscia and have about 40 of them; but this is the star of the collection.

 

The king of Chi-Rho coins of Constantine...

 

Very nice @Barry Murphy