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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Victor_Clark, post: 24733230, member: 10613&quot;]After the death of Constantine on 22 May 337, there was an interregnum of some three months before his three sons were proclaimed Augusti on 9 Sept 337. It was during these three months that The Great Massacre occurred, when most of the other male members of Constantine&#039;s family and their supporters were killed, including the brothers Delmatius and Hannibalianus. Constantius Gallus and Julian II were young enough to be spared.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I don&#039;t know that the coins below are specifically dated to the three month period...it&#039;s more of a hypothesis. RIC dates these from 337 until the death of Constantine II in 340. Given their rarity, they had to have been struck for a very limited time and it makes sense that some special types may have been struck during that uncertain period as some feel good propaganda.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The first is a wolf and twins commemorative. It looks just like the regular type, except the obverse has the addition of BEATA; so it now translates to “blessed city of Rome.”</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1582194[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>VRBS ROMA BEATA</p><p>A.D. 337</p><p>17mm&nbsp;&nbsp; 2.0g</p><p>Obv. VRBS ROMA BEATA; helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left.</p><p>Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, wreath between two stars.</p><p>In ex. branch R Q branch</p><p>RIC VIII Rome 55</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Constantinopolis coin is different from the normal type for two reasons-- because it has a reverse legend of VICTORIA AVG while the normal type is anepigraphic and it also depicts Victory with a wreath and palm branch instead of the regular sceptre and shield. I believe that the reverse legend coupled with the new attributes of Victory are meant to reassure the citizens of Rome- Constantine&#039;s lineage was victorious --the legend VICTORIA AVG and the wreath; but now the Empire is at peace --the palm branch.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1582195[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Constantinopolis</p><p>A.D. 337</p><p>16mm 1.5g</p><p>CONSTANTINOPOLIS; laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.</p><p>VICTORIA AVG; Victory stg. on prow, holding wreath and palm frond.</p><p>in ex. R palm Є</p><p>RIC VIII Rome 42</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Some reading on the topic…including the article that I borrowed the title from--</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Burgess, R.W. THE SUMMER OF BLOOD. The &quot;Great Massacre&quot; of 337 and the Promotion of the Sons of Constantine. Dumbarton Oaks Papers 62, 2008.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Woods, David. “Numismatic Evidence and the Succession to Constantine I.” Numismatic Chronicle 171 (2011): 187- 196.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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