Here is an early issue for Constantine from Ticinum and per RIC was only struck for Constantine and demonstrated that Ticinum was “already showing strong signs of Constantine’s influence” (RIC VI p. 274) It was struck shortly before Maxentius took control. Constantine I A.D. 306 28mm 8.7g CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear. VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN; Prince with shield on left arm, galloping right and spearing kneeling foe; second foe (holding sword?) prostrate on ground; A in left field. In ex. TT RIC VI Ticinum 72
Handsome coin, love the portrait. The reverse is just as nice. I love it & I don't say that too much, on posts.
Great coin... That reverse! What an interesting depiction of the fallen enemy holding the sword. (Usually it seems like he's trying to get away?) Even well preserved, I'm not used to seeing that level of detail. These always remind me of a brief comment in RIC VIII (p. 240), discussing a similar rev. for Constantius II & Magnentius (but one enemy, GLORIA ROMANORVM). Kent notes that the two Emperors' coins of the same type showed two different styles of enemy. (Enemy wearing pointed cap for Constantius vs. bare-headed for Magnentius.) Did that detail mean something or just the whim of the engravers? (expandable) This just happens to be one theme I find fascinating in Late Roman Bronzes. For the "enemies" reverses (Constantine's, certain Constantine-Licinius captives, Constantius-Magnentius), I always wonder which ones may have alluded to external enemies, and how many to the various internal conflicts in the Tetrarchic & Constantinian periods. And how many of them can be identified as such.
If this reverse is meant to refer to actual enemies, it might be the Picts that Constantine and his father Constantius campaigned against in Northern Britain for about a year until the death of his father in July 306--and this coin was probably struck two or three months later.
