For more than a decade following the death of their father, Constantine I, on May 22, 337, his two oldest sons, Constantine II and Constantius II, issued an extensive posthumous coinage in his honor, styling him as "Divus Constantinus." This should strike one as odd. As David Sear* explains: The pagan practice of enrolling a deceased member of the imperial family amongst the gods would seem to be quite out of place in the case of the first Christian emperor and Constantine was, in fact, the last ruler to be so honoured. Sear then notes that Constantine I's youngest son, Constans, being the most rigidly Orthodox of the family, refused to honor him in this way and notes that no consecration coins were issued at any of the mints under his control. The consecration issues consisted of a single gold solidus minted in Constantinople in AD 337 (RIC viii, pp. 446-7, no. 1) and a host of small billon (AE-3) reduced centenionales from numerous mints bearing several reverse types: AETERNITAS PIETAS, depicting Constantine in military attire standing left, holding globe and spear; IVST VEN MEM, depicting Justitia or Aequitas standing left, holding scales in left hand; IVST VENER MEMOR, depicting Justitia or Aequitas, winged, standing left, holding scales and transverse scepter; VM-MR flanking Constantine, veiled and togate, standing right; and an anepigraphic type depicting a veiled figure of Constantine in a quadriga galloping upwards to the right, extending his right hand towards the hand of God (manus dei), which emerges from a cloud, above. This particular coin is a new acquisition, purchased recently from our own @gsimonel . It hails from the Nicomedia mint and was minted more than a decade after Constantine's death. The VM MR on the reverse is an abbreviation for venerabilis memoria, "revered memory." It was struck by all ten officinae at the Nicomedia mint and in three series, distinguished by the placement of dots in the exergue, either absent, after, or before and after the mint mark and officina mark. Post your consecration issues of Constantine I or anything you feel is relevant! Divus Constantine I, AD 307-337. Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 1.69 g, 13.8 mm, 11 h. Nicomedia, 4th officina, AD 347-348. Obv: DV CONSTANTI-NVS PT AVGG, veiled and draped bust, right. Rev: VN-MR either side of Constantine, veiled and togate, standing right; SMNΔ• in exergue. Refs: RIC viii p. 475, 57; LRBC I 1155; Cohen 716; RCV 17469. ~~~ *Sear, David R. Roman Coins and Their Values V: The Christian Empire: the Later Constantinian Dynasty and the Houses of Valentinian and Theodosius and Their Successors, Constantine II to Zeno, AD 337 - 491, London, Spink, 2014, p. 116.
Interesting. You mentioned your coin was minted 10+ years after Constantine’s death. How long after the honored individual’s death were consecration issues typically minted?
It varied. Antoninus Pius issued a large posthumous coinage for Faustina I to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her death, for example.
heres mine I bought last week Divus Constantine Constantine I Posthumous issue 16-17mm 2.6g A.D. 347- 348 DV CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG; Veiled head right. VN-MR [VENERANDAE MEMORIAE] Constantine veiled, standing right. In ex. SMALΔ RIC VIII Alexandria 32
Here's mine: Constantine I AE, 1.72g, 15.5mm; 7h; Cyzicus, AD 347-348 Obv: DV CONSTANTINVS P T AVGG; veiled head right Rev.: VN-MR; Constantine standing right, dot In Ex.: SMKB Ref.: Cyzicus RIC VIII 54 Reference reports a dot In Ex. but this coin's flan is chipped there. Wildwinds also reports VN MR is rare for this mint.
Unfortunately many of these were struck on small, chippy flans and fail to show the significant details that make the coins special. While most people prefer high grade coins, in this case I would suggest you look for coins that show the obverse legend beginning with the unusual DV (for Divus) and ending with the more unusual PT AVGG (Pater Augustorum father of the Augusti). Thank you for bringing this up! The sons of Constantine agreed on almost nothing and were raised by tutors who differed in their flavor of Christianity. Constantius II was Arrian, the heresy that could have ended Christianity during these early years. It is an interesting story which I encourage each interested to research for themselves. Watch for the distinction that gave us the phrase' an iota of difference'.
