Constans (typo) picked up a coule of cheap coins today, thought I'd share Constans centenionalis. D N CONSTANS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Constans standing left on galley, holding Phoenix and labarum, piloted by Victory, R [O or Q ?] in ex. Rome Constans AE3 "Centenionalis". Arles. 337-350 AD. DN CONSTA-NS PF AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, A behind head / FEL TEMP-REPARATIO, emperor in military dress standing left on galley, holding Victory and labarum, Victory sitting at the stern, steering the ship. A in left field, SARL in exergue. Roman Arles The Romans took the town in 123 BC and expanded it into an important city, with a canal link to the Mediterranean Sea being constructed in 104 BC. However, it struggled to escape the shadow of Massalia (Marseille) further along the coast. Its chance came when it sided with Julius Caesar against Pompey, providing military support. Massalia backed Pompey; when Caesar emerged victorious, Massalia was stripped of its possessions, which were transferred to Arelate as a reward. The town was formally established as a colony for veterans of the Roman legion Legio VI Ferrata, which had its base there. Its full title as a colony was Colonia Iulia Paterna Arelatensium Sextanorum, "the ancestral Julian colony of Arles of the soldiers of the Sixth." (from wiki)
Fabulous posting Fantastic!!! Love those galley images...I have only one. Really wonderful post. May I ask if you bought them in this condition, or did you have to clean any dirt/tarnish off? Are they expensive?
theres some nice inexspensive ones on vcoins type "constans galley" in the search I like this one: http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/forumancientcoins/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=11968
