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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Gavin Richardson, post: 2647136, member: 83956&quot;][ATTACH=full]584965[/ATTACH] I recently bought this coin of Constantine with the scarce (rare?) obverse legend CONSTANTINUS FIL AUGG. The two G’s presumably mean that the word would be the genitive plural “augustorum,” with the expanded legend meaning, “Constantine, son of the Augusti.” I’ve read Warren Esty’s very helpful article that answers many questions about this coin. <a href="http://esty.ancients.info/FILAVGG/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://esty.ancients.info/FILAVGG/" rel="nofollow">http://esty.ancients.info/FILAVGG/</a>&nbsp; In a nutshell, the title “filius augustorum” was a kind of bogus title invented by Galerius to placate Constantine and Maximinus II ca. 308-310 A.D. and keep them from seeking further power.&nbsp; It didn’t work.&nbsp; Neither man particularly liked the title for himself.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yet I am still left with a (not so) simple question: Who are the “augusti” referenced here in the “augustorum” of the obverse legend?</p><p><br /></p><p>If I’m reading him right, Warren seems to imply that the second G is meant to signify both Constantine and Maximinus II: “<i>Galerius, who thought up the idea, struck FIL AVGG coins (with two G&#039;s) for both Constantine and Maximinus II at Siscia and Thessalonica. In addition, FIL AVG coins (with one G) were struck by Galerius for Constantine at Nicomedia and by Maximinus for Constantine at Antioch and Alexandria. Maximinus did not strike them for himself.”</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The confusing thing for me, then, is that such a reference does not work with the grammar of the Latin. Constantine and Maximinus II were filii, not augusti. “FILL AUG” might make better sense. But not “FIL AUGG,” since the “sons’” identities should not make up the plural <i>augustorum</i>. They aren’t the augusti. Maybe I misreading Warren and he’s not implying that reference at all.</p><p><br /></p><p>Alternately, I wondered if “augustorum” referred to the two men’s actual parentage, since both were, indeed, sons of an augustus–Constantius Chlorus for Constantine, and Galerius (via adoption) for Maximinus II.</p><p><br /></p><p>Or is “augustorum” to be taken figuratively? Are Constantine and Maximinus II figuratively the “sons” or heirs apparent to the Augusti of West and East –Licinius and Galerius, respectively?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you’re still reading this, congratulations.&nbsp; Any thoughts on who the real-world referents of <i>augustorum</i> are in this obverse legend?[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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