Divus Constantine I (died 337). Æ (14mm, 1.74g, 12h). Alexandria, 337-340. Veiled bust r. R/ Emperor driving quadriga r., the hand of God reaching down to him; SMALB. RIC VIII 12. Dark patina, near EF
Constantine deified 16 mm. 1.75 grams. 3:00 Struck 337-340 at Antioch mintmark: SMANTΓ no reverse legend RIC Antioch 37 For more about this type with a possible early Christian reference, see: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Christian/ChristianTable2.html#2.5 on this site: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html "Christian Symbols on Roman Coins"
This the only Hand of God coin that I have: The blob is the Hand of God crowning Eudoxia. RI Aelia Eudoxia wife of Arcadius 395-401 CE AE3 2-83g 17mm crowned by hand of God Enthroned Constan mint RIC 79
Much later 1143 AD. Seem much more abstract. Full length figure of the Virgin, nimbate, orans, wearing tunic, and maphorion turned to the r. Manus Dei (Hands of God) in upper field to r.
These are a really cool coins and @ro1974 posted a great example. At some point, I need to get one of these.
Wonderful coins, everyone! Being the Trinitarian I am, perhaps I should show 3 hands of God, in this case, my examples of Sear 85A.
Simply wonderful! Sorry for the question - What's the Æ and 12h mean in "Æ (14mm, 1.74g, 12h)." Please. Thanks in advance.
AE means bronze.. Just like AR means silver. 12 h or 3/4 or maybe 2h indicate how much the coin is off-centered.
Never apologize for a question; that's how we learn. "Æ" is short for Aes, Latin for copper or bronze, denoting the composition of the coin. The phrase "12h" indicates the visual relationship of the obverse type to that of the reverse relative to a clock face (h=hour). In this case, when turning the coin over while keeping the obverse straight up, the reverse is at the 12 o'clock position, i. e., also straight up. In addition to "Æ", you will also see "Ar" = Latin argentum, silver, and "AU" = aurum, gold.
Ahh! Thanks 7Calbrey and Voulgaroktonou! So, Ae is Cu or CuSn (or CuZn?). Ar is Ag. Au is, of course, Au - gold. However, more clarification, please. 12h would be the same as saying "medallic orientation" while 6h would be the same as saying "coin orientation?" I understand that those standard orientations can be quite off with the older hammered coins; is my understanding correct? Thanks heaps and loads!
As an addendum to my post concerning my perhaps cryptic reference "Sear 85A", I follow the suggestion of a dear friend. I should have provided a bit more attribution. The 3 coins are struck under the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justin I, 518-527 AD from the mint of Nicomedia.
Returning to the Constantine memorial issue quadriga and hand-of-God type: Alexandria with S - R high in fields left and right While the hand of God is a new element in the reverse design, the figure in a quadriga has a precedent early in the career of Constantine. Though dedicated to honor Constantine by the Roman Senate and given to him not long (3 years) after the defeat of Maxentius at Milvian Bridge, there is some debate as to just when the Arch of Constantine was first erected and by whom, with some scholars dating it back to the time of Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius based on the various old motifs in the decoration of the arches and found in the spandrels (the large 2 meter discs mounted on the face of each side). More likely, old elements were carried over from second century structures. So Wikipedia: "The last of the existing triumphal arches in Rome, it is also the only one to make extensive use of spolia, reusing several major reliefs from 2nd century imperial monuments, which give a striking and famous stylistic contrast to the sculpture newly created for the arch." The precise date of the dedication of the finished arch is given in an inscription in the south attic of the structure. Of particular interest to us is the motif of the spandrel on the eastern face (other end in pic above). The scene depicts the rising sun as Apollo (or Sol) driving the horses of the sun, which are configured as a quadriga. Given the fact that at this point in his career Constantine was still an active devotee of Sol Invictus, while also supporting Christianity, the motif of this spandrel could well have been a new device recently sculpted and added to the arch. In spirit it is an active depiction of the forward aspirations and dominance Constantine sought to make characteristic of his imperial reign. In converting this central image to a posthumous figure of Constantine himself, as in fulfillment of his life aspirations, the auxiliary figures above and below the quadriga disappear on the coins, the upper figure being replaced by the hand of God which descends upon the late lamented figure of Constantine.
That is correct. Copper and zinc are usually referred to a orichalcum, which generally is spelled out, although some collectors may abbreviate it as just OR.
This perhaps says more about the senate of Rome, who commisioned the work, than it does about Constantine.
Or it may be that those commissioned to do the work came to know their subject well, for it was his sons who later used this motif, in an only slightly altered form, as a significant metaphor for the man himself. "Significant" in the sense that it was broadcast throughout the empire on coinage specifically in his honor and memory. Whether it was the senators or the artisans and craftsmen, someone struck a chord with the house of Constantine.
