The coin below is a commemorative coin of Theodora, (2nd?) wife of Constantinus I, (but not the mother of Constantine the Great or his descendants; CtG's mother was Helena): AE3 Trier mint, A.D. 337-340 Obv: FL MAX THE-ODORAE AVG Rev: PIETAS ROMANA - Pietas, standing facing right, holding infant to breast CONSS in exergue RIC (Vol.VIII) 50/51, var. 15mm, 1.5g. This coin was minted during the reign of the three sons of CtG after they'd bumped off Delmatius and Hannibalianus and had themselves declared co-Augustii. My question is: why did they mint this coin? It's true that she was the wife of their grandfather, but she wasn't their grandmother. Step-grandmother, I guess. But even if Constantius I had never married Helena, CtG acknowledged her as his mother and had her declared Augusta in A.D. 324. He even minted coins in her name (see below), so anyone who cared probably knew that Theodora was not the mother of the Augustii. Yet they minted this commemorative. I wonder why. For good measure, here's a coin of Helena: AE3 Trier mint, A.D. 327-329 Obv: FL HELENA AVGVSTA Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE - Securitas, standing left, holding downward branch and raising pallium [dot]STRE in exergue RIC 515 19mm, 3.2g And while we're at it, we might as well complete the trio with a coin of Fausta, the notorious wife of CtG: AE3 Ticinum mint, A.D. 326-328 Obv: FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG Rev: SPESREI-PVBLICAE - Spes, standing, facing left, holding two children in her arms. S[crescent]T in exergue RIC 203 18mm, 2.6g. Post anything you think is relevant.
Interesting new coin! Fausta Augusta, Struck 326-328 AD AE2, Thessalonica Mint Obverse: FLAV MAX – FAVSTA AVG, bust of Fausta, waved hair, mantled, right. Reverse: SPES REIP-VBLICAE, Empress, veiled, draped, standing front, head left, holding two children in her arms. Exergue: SMTSA References: RIC VII 161
It's all in the name....Theodora Maximiana, as in daughter (biological or adopted) of emperor Maximian. It was a way for the Constantine boys to say...."Hey, not only was our grandfather a tetrarch, but we also have a daughter of a tetrarch in our family." Sure, she may not have been a blood relative, but since when did that stop a Roman from using a "relative's" name as a way to boost their own legitimacy? Look at the Julio-Claudian emperors, look at the Severans, look at countless others who used names of previous emperors (many whom had at best a made-up connection ....not even an adoptive link). Being a blood relative of a nobody meant less in the ancient world than being related to a powerful name by either adoption, marriage, or totally made up link. Why do you think Elagabalus claimed that he was the son of Caracalla? Who cares if it wasn't true? As long as the soldiers believed it, and there wad some political capital to be gained, that's all that really mattered. PS: Here's Helena... Helena, Mother of Constantine, 327 - 328 AD AE Follis, Antioch Mint, 20mm, 2.88 grams Obverse: FL HELENA AVGVSTA, Diademed and mantled bust of Helena right. Reverse: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, Securitas standing left holding branch and raising robe with right hand, DE in right field, SMANT in exergue RIC80
I imagine it was more of a dynastic move. Show your relatives, establish legitimacy, etc. Such a common theme with the Romans. Even in the Republican period many moneyers were constantly issuing coins with themes not just to people, but events as well.
This is an enigmatic issue. The numismatic evidence (RIC viii, p. 79) indicates the series was initiated immediately after Constantine's death, before the massacre of most of Theodora's descendants during the interregnum of May-September, AD 337. This rules out that the issue was done as an act of contrition on the part of Constantine's three sons after the bloodshed. Sear (RCV v, p. 120) suggests that the issue was planned by Constantine I himself before his death as part of his plans for succession. Helena, Augusta AD 324-228/30 Roman billon reduced centenionalis; 1.24 g, 13.4 mm Trier, AD 337-340 Obv: FL IVL HELENAE AVG diademed and draped bust, right Rev: PAX PVBLICA, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter; in exergue TR S Refs: RIC viii, p. 144, 78; LRBC I 119; Cohen 4; RCV 17492. Theodora, Augusta posthumously (?) Roman billon reduced centenionalis; 1.42 g, 13.8 mm, 10 h Trier, AD 337-340 Obv: FL MAX THEODORAE AVG, diademed and draped bust, right Rev: PIETAS ROMANA, Pietas standing facing, head right, holding infant; in exergue TR P (+/- palm branch; off the flan). Refs: RIC viii, p. 144, 79 or 91; LRBC I 120; Cohen 4; RCV 17500 or 17502.
Nice coins @gsimonel ... and great question! Theodora RI Theodora AE 15 337-340 CE Pietas Romana S 3911 Helena RI Helena mother Constantine AE Follis Securitas Nicomedia mint 325-326 CE 19mm 3.3g RIC-95 Sear 16619 Fausta RI Fausta 325-326 CE AE3 Spes stdg 2 infants SMHA 20mm 3.48g scratch over eye
WoWiE! Theodora is known for her shabby coins. Yours is fantastic! Hey Doo is dynamic It's always a treat to check out and show off the ladies. Here's my much less fantastic Theodora the explorer and some of the other poor gals that hooked up with these Con-men shlubs: Theodora (posthumous issue). Died before A.D. 337. Æ 4 (13.6 mm, 1.37 g, 12 h). Uncertain mint, Struck before April A.D. 340. FL MAX THEODORA AVG, laureate and draped bust right / PIETAS ROMANA·, Pietas standing facing, holding infant at her breast; [mintmark obscured]. Cf. RIC VIII 48, 56, 65, 79, 91; cf. LRBC 113, 120, 129. VF, rough, green patina. Scarce. Helena Augusta, AD 324-328/30. Æ Follis Heraclea mint, 2nd officina. Struck AD 329-330. Diademed and mantled bust right, wearing necklace / Securitas standing left, holding branch; SMHB·. RIC VII 85. Fausta 307-326 CE Follis 18 MM Thessalonika326/8. Av.: FLAV max FAVSTA avg, draped bust right. RV.: Spes rei PVBLICAE, Salus stands on the left holds two children. Ric: 161. F. Vzgl.
