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Message:: [QUOTE="John Anthony, post: 1962412, member: 42773"]This isn't a new coin, but a new photograph coupled with an interpretation of the reverse design I discovered in a numismatic tract called "Constantine's Dafne Coinage at Constantinople," by R. S. Speck and Stephen M. Huston (1992). The authors of this booklet place these coins in their historical context and analyze the varieties quite thoroughly, giving the reader much more information than available in RIC. (I picked this up in the FORVM store for a mere $7, and I believe it's a must-have for anyone interested in Constantinian coinage.) [ATTACH=full]346540[/ATTACH] I recently read Valentinian's page concerning Christian symbolism on Roman coins, found <a href="http://esty.ancients.info/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://esty.ancients.info/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, and discovered a fascinating type (RIC Constantinople 19), with a chi-rho topping a standard, planted in a serpent. The Christian symbolism in this design seems apparent to me. What was not apparent to me, until I read this analysis, was that the Dafne reverse type also evinces an overtly anti-pagan, pro-Christian message. Anyone even slightly familiar with Roman coin designs would have to ask, "Why should Daphne appear on a coin?" She is a very minor figure in Greek mythology, a Naiad, a nymph associated with bodies of freshwater. Her only claim to fame is that she resolutely rejected the advances of Apollo. But therein lies her importance on these coins. [ATTACH=full]346548[/ATTACH] Apollo and Dafne by Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Barnini, source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria_Borghese" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galleria_Borghese" rel="nofollow">Galeria Borghese</a>. When Constantine first began rebuilding Byzantium in 326, as a memorial to his victories, there was no intention of moving the Roman capitol. Constantinople was simply rebuilt within its old, Severan walls. But by 328, the project was extended to eight times the size of the older city. Constantine systematically stripped Roman temples of their valuables and used them to adorn the new Christian city. In this context of anti-paganism, the representation of Daphne makes much more sense. "The coinage of this mint with CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE reverse was produced as the exclusive type for Constantine at this mint for more than the last two years before the city's dedication, but it was never produced elsewhere. Its special significance was admirably demonstrated by McGregor (SAN 1984) in his article Constantiniana Dafne - a different point of view. McGregor set out the religious significance of this reverse type - portraying Constantine as Dafne, turning away from the symbols of the pagan religion (Apollo and Sol) toward the palm, the symbol of Christianity." (Speck, Huston) These coins were only minted in Constantinopolis, and as such, constitute a local city issue. There are plenty of Roman provincial coins that were only meant to circulate locally, but are there any other instances of an imperial city coin? At any rate, it's one of the most beautiful and complex reverse types among LRB's, so let's see yours. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Constantine I, 272-337 AE Follis: 19mm, 2.62g, 6h; Constantinople Mint: 328Obv: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.Rev: CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE; Dafne as Victory standing left on cippus holding palm branches, looking right, trophy in front, kneeling captive / A // CONSReference: RIC VII, Constantinople 35 (p. 574) R3 [ATTACH=full]346549[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]

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