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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bart9349, post: 1652600, member: 5682&quot;]This is an excellent insight. One should always place a coin in its historical context.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is worth remembering that Magnentius was only a nominal Christian with strong Pagan sympathies.</p><p><br /></p><p>When these coins were minted—sometime around AD 353—Magnentius, who was based in the western provinces of the Empire, was in a struggle with Constantius II, who was based in the eastern provinces.</p><p><br /></p><p>Surprisingly, Constantius was not a supporter of the Catholic Church of Rome. He was, in fact, an adherent to the movement of Arius (known as Arianism).</p><p><br /></p><p>It is in this background the coins were minted with the symbol of Chi-Ro. This symbol was used to engender support (especially in the western half of Empire) from a mostly illiterate population with whom symbols had a great significance. The Chi-Ro would have universal appeal to both Christian and Pagan alike.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The Chi-Ro Christogram was a symbol that would have been easily recognized by Catholic Christians everywhere. Also importantly, this symbolism would have reminded Catholic Christians that Constantius II was “not one of them.” He was an advocate of the heretical theology of Arianism and did not promote the Catholic church of Rome in the Eastern parts of the Empire.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Chi-Ro is also a Pagan symbol.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho</a></p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;This symbol would have a sympathetic meaning to the elite in Rome (who were still largely Pagan). It would also be favorable to a large proportion of the population who was unconverted and still staunchly Pagan. The Chi-Ro symbol could even have been looked upon sympathetically by those who recently converted to Christianity, but with whom Paganism still resonated. </p><p><br /></p><p>Remember, it was only forty years before these struggles that the Battle of the Milvian Bridge was fought. It was at that pivotal battle that Constantine won, reportedly under the inspiration of the sign. Constantine’s victory was the beginning of the conversion of the entire Roman Empire to Christianity.</p><p><br /></p><p>No one can be certain why Magnentius used the Chi-Ro symbolism on these coins. That said, I enjoy the discussions about history that these coins conjure.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>guy[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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