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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Heliodromus, post: 8255095, member: 120820&quot;]That&#039;s a tall order for a Constantine collector, but here&#039;s something pretty close...</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a cast copy (mine) of a bronze Constantine medallion in the Florence archeological museum (2nd coin).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1455200[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1455201[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Here&#039;s a slightly clearer specimen from Vienna.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1455202[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The type is RIC VII Rome 279.</p><p><br /></p><p>Obv: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG</p><p>Rev: GLORIA SAECVLI VIRTVS CAESS</p><p><br /></p><p>The type has been dated to 326 AD, so perhaps issued for Constantine&#039;s vicennial celebrations when he was in Rome. This was also the decennalia of the caesars Crispus and Constantine II, perhaps hence the reverse type.</p><p><br /></p><p>The pagan reverse really is quite extraordinary, especially for such a late date (which has to be about right given the diademed bust type). We have our Christian emperor Constantine, apparently channeling Jupiter, bare chested and holding a sceptre, while the standing figure, interpreted as Crispus, hands him a phoenix on globe. At Crispus&#039; feet, head bowed to the master, is an unmistakable panther, the favored mount of Dionysus/Bacchus. Crispus therefore appears to be cast as Dionysus, which is appropriate since Dionysus was son of Zeus (and Crispus son of Constantine, here cast as Zeus/Jupiter).</p><p><br /></p><p>Assuming the 326 date/occasion is correct, this optimistic celebratory type is rather poignant given that Constantine would have Crispus killed a mere few week later.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, here&#039;s a photo I took of the Dionysus sarcophagus (c.220-230 AD) at the Metropolitan museum, showing Dionysus riding a panther.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1455199[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>You can see the full sarcophagus (also featuring the Four Seasons, Tellus and Oceana) here:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254819" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254819" rel="nofollow">https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/254819</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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