I would appreciate knowing if this is a real coin. I think it's a replica but looks to gold. Also, what is it a replica of? it's 17 mm in diameter. Thanks for any info. Regards, Mike
It's a follis of Constantine the Great with the sun god, Sol on the reverse. These coins are bronze, but this one has been gilt for jewelry. It's authentic, but altered.
Looks like a jeweler decades ago bought a follis of Constantine that was badly corroded and probably had a flan crack, and not worth much, and gilded it and incorporated it into a necklace to sell for big bucks to a tourist or someone with more money than sense. It's a neat find, but definitely not worth anything, except for the gold in the jewelry insert (unless it's gold filled).
It's a handsome jewelry piece, and should have some value in that aspect, if very little in numismatic terms. I like it.
It's in a nice holder. I would not remove the coin. Many Christians revere Constantine the Great because he officially ended the persecution against the Christians and made Christianity the favored religion of the Empire. To a devout Christian yourself, it would make a nice piece of jewelry. Removed from its holder, however, you have merely a ruined ancient coin worth about $5. BTW, I'm guessing the coin was probably minted in Trier, around 315-316 A.D.
