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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Victor_Clark, post: 24741348, member: 10613&quot;]I remember that coin!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In A.D. 313, a set of three fractional coins was issued from Rome and Trier for both Constantine and Licinius. These small coins were probably distributed to the citizens as part of the Imperial largesse. A few things may have possibly been referenced by these coins, but they obviously commemorated peace in the Empire. This time of peace was the culmination of many events—Constantine defeated Maxentius, Maximinus had died, Constantine’s sister married Licinius and cemented peace between the two rulers, and in A.D. 313, Constantine and Licinius signed the Edict of Milan.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1582730[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>FVNDAT PACIS&nbsp; Mars advancing right with trophy over left shoulder, captive seated behind him</p><p>RIC VII Rome 12</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1582731[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>GLORIA PERPET&nbsp; Two victories advancing right, both holding wreath and branch, standard between them</p><p>RIC VII Rome 14</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1582732[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS Altar with owl, spear across altar, shield to left and helmet to right.</p><p>RIC VII Rome 16</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The FVNDAT and GLORIA coins are half-folles and the SAPIENT is a quarter-follis. This quarter follis is the smallest coin that Constantine issued. The owl on the SAPIENT coin had long been a symbol of wisdom through association with Minerva; but the owl was also a symbol of good luck. According to Zosimus, before Constantine fought Maxentius, “an infinite number of owls flew down and covered the wall.” Of course, the owls were bad luck for Maxentius!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>These were struck under the authority of Constantine I, who was ruler in the West.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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