Nicene Church Discovered?

"After years of searching, archaeologists believe they have found the sunken remains of the church where the historic First Council of Nicaea was held in 325 A.D."

https://www.ucatholic.com/news/submerged-church-ruins-where-council-of-nicaea-was-held-discovered/

To keep it coin-y, post your Constantines or coins with early Christian imagery!

Here's a Vetranio in the name of Constantius II, IN HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS!

 

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That would be an incredible discovery!

 

Thank you for posting this link @Gavin Richardson ! Discoveries such as this amaze me! ​

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Behold, some early Christian imagery

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Wow, what a find!

I've started on a sub-collection of Constainian coins with Christian symbols. I think they're awesome!

Apologies for sucky photos.



Erin

 

To celebrate this happy discovery, here is my coin of the vile monster Constantine I, one of my least favorite Emperors.

 

How do you really feel about him, Counselor?

 

Very cool, @ominus1 !

 

That is a great discovery. I suppose if it was destroyed by an earthquake and sunk below a lake the Turks can't do anything worse to it. Here is a coin of Constantine.

Constantine Billon follis, 315-316 AD, Alexandria mint.
20.5mm 3.714g
Obv: IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG (to Jove the protector of the two Emperors), Jupiter standing left, nude but for cloak over shoulder, Victory on globe in right hand, long scepter in left hand, eagle with wreath in beak at feet left, K left, wreath / A / X right, ALE in exergue.

 

Could find this couple in one of my folders. Constantine I, and Constantius II.

 

Let's see, on previous threads I've said things like this to describe him: Constantine the Not-so-Great, despicable, villain, murderous thug, gangster, blood thirsty, vain, effeminate, jewel encrusted psychopath, etc.

I could go on if you want to. I think my list of Constantine insults is nearly a mile long. That's 1.609 kilometers for everyone in the rest of the world. Still hasn't stopped me from owning some of his coinage, even though it is the coinage of a narcissistic maniacal little man who history has propped up on a pedestal of smoke and mirrors to disguise the trails of blood and tears that is his true legacy.

Need I say more, or is it clear now how I feel about him?

 

Excellent discovery of the great Church of Nicaea!

Here's a rarer Constantine Soli Invicto from Rome coin showing a cuirassed bust of Constantine only.

 

Wasn't Constantine supposed to be 6 foot 6?

So saying he was a little man is meant symbolically, right?

I find his mother Saint Helena to be an interesting character who located the true cross by traveling to Jerusalem and telling the local Rabbis to turn over the cross or she would have them burnt at the stake.

Nice family. Love to spend Thanksgiving weekend with them.

John

 

No, you've covered it. Well done!

 

Well I strongly disagree with Sallent, but that's ok.

I'm going to post my Constantinian dynasty coins with early Christian symbols:


Constans, AD 337-350
AE, 2.9g, 19mm; 1h; Siscia, AD 348-350
Obv.: DN CONSTA-N PF AVG; diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: FEL TEMP REPARATIO; emperor in military dress standing left in galley, holding phoenix on globe and standard with chi-rho on banner, in the stern sits Victory steering the ship
In Ex.: ASIS (symbol?)

"Constans made a crossing of the English Channel in the winter months of AD 330, and he would not have made a dangerous winter crossing unless there was some sort of military imperative - probably he had to repel an invasion of Scots and Picts. This coin commemorates the victory, although we have no details of the actual conflict.
Victory steers the galley at the aft, the emperor's armor is well-detailed, there's a sharp chi-rho on the banner, and you've even got nice prow detail, and a full phoenix on globe with halo." @John Anthony

While this coin has molted patina, I appreciate it for what it is, a commemorative issue lost to history.


Constans, AD 337-350
AE, follis, 16mm, 1.5g; 12h; Siscia, AD 337-341
Obv.: CONSTAN-S PF AVG; rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: GLOR-IAEXERC-ITVS; two soldiers with spears and shields, facing one standard, chi-rho on banner
In Ex.: BSIS

This coin was among my first ancients. Worked out to about $5.42.

Here's a usurper....


Magentius, AD 350-353
AE, 23mm, 4.72g; 12h
Obv.: [DN MAGEN]-TIVS PF A[VG]
Rev.: [SAL]VS DD NN A[VG ET CAAES]; Large Chi-Rho with A to left, ω right

 

As if covering every inch of his body in jewels was not enough, the man killed the best prince Rome could have hoped to have in the 4rth Century...a prince that could have become a great emperor the likes of which Rome had not seen since the era of the Good Emperors. Im refering of course to Crispus. His death is one of the cruelest blows to the late empire, depriving it of a highly talented, capable, and much loved ruler that had the makings of a great Augustus.



Crispus' murder is of course the #1 reason I dislike Constantine so much, but I`m also not a fan of what he did to Licinius II after swearing that his Christian piety had led him to forgive the young boy for the crimes of his father. Only one year later, Costantine would strangle his little nephew. Then he set his three remaining sons for a power struggle after his death that would only result in weakening the empire at a time when the empire could least afford it. I'm telling you, if it wasn't for the free pass people give him because of the whole Christianity thing, Constantine was actually a pretty bad emperor that sewed the seeds of the final decline of the Roman Empire (and it has little to do with his religious policies, though that certainly did not help matters either).

I don't know how anyone can say otherwise, @Jwt708 , except for the indoctrination people get about how good he was because of Christianity. But if one puts the whole Christianity issue aside and objectively looks at everything else he did, the evidence against him is very damning.

@Theodosius Yes, the little man reference was symbolic.

Anyway, I hope this post explains my strong dislike of Constantine to all of you in a logical way that makes sense, even if you still disagree with me.

 

Same here. As an expert on Constantine, I wonder what @Victor_Clark has to say on this matter?

 

Admittedly, I'm having vodka Zero Calorie Poweraides and watching Groundhog Day...not in any mood to debate Constantine's role in the history of the Roman Empire or legacy. I know he's a sore subject with you.

Historical critiques that get too caught up in emotional responses give me pause.

I mean no disrespect or ill will! I always enjoy your posts, coins, and enjoy interacting with you on the forums and consider you a forum friend.

 

Then I take it you also disagree with Wild Winds description of Constantine? Personally, I think their description is far too kind.

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/i.html