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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Loong Siew, post: 8135278, member: 75799&quot;]<b>Constantine and Helena. Roman Empire.</b> Commemoration of the establishment of Constantinople. 3rd Siliqua. Silver. AD330. 11mm x 0.88g. Toned. Very rare.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bust of Helena, Mother of Constantine. Reverse single K representing the first character of the city of Constantinople. </p><p><br /></p><p>This tiny coin is historical in many ways. Firstly, it was struck during the reign of Emperor Constantine, whom was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity as the predominant religion of the then pagan Roman Empire and eventually most of Europe and the west today. Whilst coins of Constantine are common, silver issues such as this are very rare as most of his coins issued are of AE alloy.</p><p><br /></p><p>Secondly, it featured Helena who was a devout Christian and influential figure in the life and reign of the Emperor. She was tasked to seek and oversee the recovery of Christian relics. Such was her piety and influence that she was canonized by the Catholic and much of the Orthodox Churches. </p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, this coin commemorated the founding of Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire when it was conquered and renamed Istanbul to this day. One of history&#039;s greatest cities, Constantinople is a lasting legacy of the Roman Empire and Ottoman Caliphate which has culturally shaped much of Ancient Europe to this day. [ATTACH=full]1417521[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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