My newest acquisition...A VLPP from Siscia with a Chi-Rho on the helmet. Eusebius wrote that Constantine “was in the habit of wearing on his helmet [the chi-rho] at a later period." Constantine I A.D. 319 18mm 2.8g IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG -- high crested helmet with Chi-Rho, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm decorated with horseman leaping over fallen enemy. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. BSIS• RIC VII Siscia 61
I've kept an eye-peeled for that type for years! It's an awesome aquistition -- and a gorgeous example!!! I'm officially impressed :-D. (And envious!) :-o
Yes, I have been searching for quite a while. I collect VLPP from Siscia and this one is the star of the group.
Not sure why I'm just seeing this. What a spectacular find! So, @Victor_Clark, as I understand these VLPPs, at least as far as Constantine is concerned, there are two periods of striking for this reverse type, correct? 312/313 for the billon type, and 318-320 for the bronze with some silvering. Those are the only years possible for official Constantine VLPPs, correct?
@Victor_Clark - Presuming Constantine did indeed see his famous vision as described, I have long wondered what exactly Constantine saw in the sky alongside: "In hoc signo vinces". As I know you know, some say he saw a Cross (of some form), and some say he saw a Chi-Rho. Keeping in mind that whatever emblem he saw is accepted as having been drawn on some pieces of armor -- it seems to me that this coin type you posted might add a little weight of credence to the Chi-Rho theory due it being a contemporary inference to a Chi-Rho on Constantine's own helmet. Also, of course as you know, there is a coin of Crispus with a Chi-Rho on a shield, which when coupled with the type you posted would seem to add further weight to the Chi-Rho theory. (Not to mention that there is no official type from the Constantine and sons era which show a Cross on either a helmet or a shield.) Also, I'm remembering that a Cross on a shield does appear by later rulers, but those were struck over 6 decades after Constantine's death, (by Arcadius, Honorius, & Theodosius II). I'd be very appreciative if you would share any thoughts you have on this.
Yes, that is correct. It had to be a sun dog I have a page from an incunable, which is a book printed before 1501, that is about the sun dog or solar halo phenomenon mentioned above. page CCIII from the German edition of Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle, printed by Anton Koberger in Nuremberg, Germany, in December of 1493. The best scholarly article on this topic is-- Weiß, Peter. “The Vision of Constantine.” Journal of Roman Archeology 16, 2003, pp. 237-259. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Weiß_(Historiker) and my tray of ex-Weiß coins
