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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;John Anthony, post: 2455435, member: 42773&quot;]AD 312 is an eventful one for Constantine the Great. On October 28 he defeats the usurper Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge, becoming the sole emperor of the West. During the battle, he experiences his vision of a cross, accompanied by the words <i>in hoc signo vinces</i>, in this sign you shall conquer. He adopts it as his motto, and has the letters XP (the first two letters of the Greek spelling of Christ) emblazoned on his soldiers’ shields. On October 29, he enters Rome in a grand <i>adventus</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]513708[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Triumphal entry of Constantine into Rome, 15th century wall painting, </font></p><p><font size="3">Church of the Holy Cross, Platanistasa, Cyprus</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine forges an alliance with his co-emperor Licinius, offering Licinius his half-sister Constantia in marriage. The alliance would not last - eventually Constantine and Licinius would plunge the empire into a massive civil war. But when these coins were minted, Rome was temporarily at peace.</p><p><br /></p><p>Even the most common of coins can reveal a wealth of history. Here are two minted in Heraclea, of the same series. Five officinae struck for each emperor. Coins from this series also exist for Maximinus II, issued from alpha and gamma officinae, but are quite scarce compared to their common cousins.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]513713[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Constantine I, AD 312-337</font></p><p><font size="3">AE Follis, 22mm, 3.1g, 6h; Heraclea mint, AD 312.</font></p><p><font size="3">Obv.: IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS PF AVG; Laureate head right.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rev.: IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG; Jupiter stg. facing, head l., chlamys hanging from l. shoulder, r. holding Victory on globe, l. leaning on scepter; eagle with wreath in beak at feet to l. In right field B // SMHT</font></p><p><font size="3">Reference: RIC VI Heraclea 75, p. 541</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]513714[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Licinius I, AD 308-324</font></p><p><font size="3">AE Follis, 22mm, 3.1g, 6h; Heraclea mint, AD 312</font></p><p><font size="3">Obv.: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG; Laureate head right.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rev.: IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG; Jupiter stg. facing, head l., chlamys hanging from l. shoulder, r. holding Victory on globe, l. leaning on scepter; eagle with wreath in beak at feet to l. In right field Δ // SMHT</font></p><p><font size="3">Reference: RIC VI Heraclea 73, p. 541</font>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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