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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Victor_Clark, post: 8076960, member: 10613&quot;]Here is a mini collection that is easy enough to put together and it references a specific historical event. The SARMATIA DEVICTA type was issued by Constantine from 5 mints—London, Lyon, Arles, Trier and Sirmium.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Who are these Sarmatians?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401958[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The Sarmatians were a nomadic group of Iranian tribes skilled in horseback warfare who existed from about the 5th century BC until the 4th century A.D. They constantly skirmished with the Greeks and then the Romans. Marcus Aurelius issued a coin with DESARM in the exergue (not mine).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401959[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>and Diocletian also celebrated a victory over the Sarmatians.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401960[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Diocletian</p><p>A.D. 295</p><p>AR Argenteus</p><p>19mm&nbsp;&nbsp; 3.3g</p><p>DIOCLETIANVS AVG; laureate head right.</p><p>VICTORIAE SARMATICAE; four turreted camp-gate, open, with doors thrown back; each turret surmounted by facing eagle.</p><p>In ex. SMNΓ</p><p>RIC VI Nicomedia 22a</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>As nomads, they constantly moved and eventually headed westward to Roman territory, a bit north of Sirmium. Constantine gathered his troops and had a great victory over them in the summer of 323. (some say 322) Look at the center for the Sarmatians, I put a green box around their name.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401961[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>“When Constantine learned that the Sarmatians, who live near Lake Maeotis, had sailed across the Danube and were pillaging his territory, he led his army against them…he killed many, took more prisoners and put the rest to flight.” Zosimus 2:21</p><p><br /></p><p>Lake Maeotis is the modern Sea of Azov</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401962[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Though Constantine issue “Sarmatia Defeated” coins, he did not actually defeat all the Sarmatians (as Zosimus even said) and they survived in some form until about the 6-7th century when local Slavic communities absorbed them.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>So, the SARMATIA DEVICTA coinage refers to this major victory over the Sarmatians. However,this was also a big reason for the upcoming civil war with Licinius, since the territory fought in was under the control of Licinius. Purely speculative, but chasing the Sarmatians into the territory of Licinius may have been a ploy by Constantine to anger Licinius and goad him into a confrontation; which seemed to work.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Licinius did not accept the gold coinage on which Constantine emblazoned his victory against the Sarmatians, but melted it down and converted it to other uses, giving no answer to those who faulted him with regard to this than that he did not wish foreign affairs to have a place in domestic business.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Petrus Patricius (circa A.D. 500- 565) <i>The Lost History of Peter the Patrician</i>&nbsp; F 208</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>and now the SARMATIA coins</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401965[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine I</p><p>A.D. 323-4</p><p>19x20mm&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.5g</p><p>CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate head right.</p><p>SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing r., holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive std. on ground to right.</p><p>In ex. PLON crescent</p><p>RIC VII London 289; LMCC 10.01.002</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401966[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine I</p><p>A.D. 323-324</p><p>19mm&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.7g</p><p>CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate head right.</p><p>SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing r., holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive std. on ground to r.; C in left field</p><p>in ex. PLG crescent</p><p>RIC VII Lyons 214</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401967[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>dealer&#039;s pic, since I don&#039;t have it yet. Note it is the only one that is cuirassed</p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine I</p><p>A.D. 322-323</p><p>19mm&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.8g</p><p>CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.</p><p>SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing r., holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive std. on ground to right.</p><p>In ex. P✶AR</p><p>RIC VII Arles 258</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401968[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine I</p><p>A.D. 323-324</p><p>19mm&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.3g</p><p>CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate head right.</p><p>SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing r., holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive std. on ground to right.</p><p>In ex. PTR crescent</p><p>RIC VII Trier 435</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401969[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>before cleaning</p><p><img src="https://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/images/SARMATIA_before.JPG" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><img src="https://www.lateromanbronzecoinforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=2229.0;attach=10766;image" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Constantine I</p><p>A.D. 324-325</p><p>18x20mm&nbsp; &nbsp; 3.1g</p><p>CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; laureate head right.</p><p>SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing r., holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive std. on ground to right.</p><p>in ex. SIRM</p><p>RIC VII Sirmium 48</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Post your Sarmatian coinage[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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