The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC MS Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Above all, Constantine I (c. 272 – 337 AD) was persistent in proving to the Roman world he was legitimately their Augustus. Over the years from 306 to 312 AD, he shared leadership of the Western Roman Empire, starting off as Tetrarchal Caesar to Augustus Licinius. By 312 AD, Constantine eliminated - in one fashion or another - his competition for the western Throne (most notably Maxentius), and became undisputed western Augustus. During this second phase of his reign, Constantine sparred diplomatically and militarily with Licinius, who was now the eastern Augustus. The conflict reached a climax in 324 AD, with not only political, but also theological, ideals at stake: Constantine’s armies bore on their standards the labarum, a symbol of Christianity, whereas Lincinius’ troops embodied the traditional, ancient Pagan ways. Although outnumbered, Constantine prevailed, and Licinius surrendered on the promise his life would be spared. The arrangement was short-lived: Licinius and his son (who was also Constantine’s nephew) were later killed on suspicion of a plot. Constantine's ruthless drive for power, and his tenacity in leaving no loose ends, now reached the ultimate point: he became undisputed Augustus of the entire Roman Empire, a unity not realized since before the days of the Tetrarchy. During his reign, Constantine implemented many administrative and monetary reforms. The latter included introduction of the gold solidus to help stabilize things after the runaway inflation of the third century. Standardized at a weight of 1/72 pound, it became the new standard for the Empire. Also produced were silver siliqua, tariffed at 24 to the solidus. Other coins also continued to be minted, including bronze folli such as this one, produced at the Siscia mint around 329 AD when Constanine was reigning as sole Augustus of the entire Roman Empire. On the obverse is the diademed head of the Emperor CONSTANTINVS AVG. On the verso is the epithet PROVIDENTIAE AVGG. Providentia was the ancient Roman divine personification of ability to foresee and make provision. Instead of a depicting a female figure for the motif (as on earlier Roman coins), in this period - when Christianity was becoming the state religion - a campgate was used. The use of AVGG (as opposed to AVG) was meant to denote not that they were two Augusti, but that Constantine represented two Augusti, leader of both western and eastern domains. Of all the changes implemented by Constantine, one of the most profound was relocation of the Empire’s political capital (the imperial capital had already been relocated to Milan decades earlier). Rome had become increasingly vulnerable, as evidenced by the defeat of Lincinius. Byzantine, at the crossroads of commerce and trade 1500 miles to the east, was chosen as new capital of the Empire. The new capital was named Constantinople after the new Augustus. In comparison to Pagan Rome, Constantinople was abounding in Christian themes: Constantine even built a new Church of the Holy Apostles directly on the site of a former temple to Aphrodite. Exactly when Constantine himself adopted Christianity is subject of debate. From early on, he employed the religion to achieve his military ends. He also supported the Church financially, granted privileges to clergy, promoted Christians to high office, and returned property confiscated during the Diocletianic persecution. It is important to note that by all accounts Constantine did not eschew other religions. He was Pontifex Maximus, a title emperors bore as heads of the pagan priesthood. He specifically instructed that everyone should celebrate the venerable Day of the Sun (referring to cult established by Aurelian). Constantine’s coinage continued to employ sun symbolism (see the star above the campgate on the reverse of this coin, for example). Constantine even wore the Apollonian sun-rayed Diadem during the dedication ceremony for his new capital. In his final years, Constantine planned a campaign against Persia, calling on bishops to accompany him, and commissioning a tent in the shape of a church. Constantine even wanted to be baptized in the Jordan River along the way. However, Constantine fell ill before he could achieve this vision; on his deathbed in 337 AD, he called on bishops to come baptize him. He was later declared a saint (along with his Christian mother, Helen) and would be called “The Great”. His elevation to sainthood, despite Constantine' ruthless methods and thoroughness with which he dispatched enemies, provides an interesting subject for debate. Religiosity aside, the posthumous honorific is deserved given Constantine’s military victories towards re-unifying of Empire, which he headed for three decades, the longest reign since the time of Augustus himself. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantine I, AD 307-337, AE3 (Billon Nummus) (3.60 g), Minted in Siscia in 328-329 AD, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Diademed head right, CONSTANTINVS AVG, Reverse: Campgate with two turrets, star above, PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, gamma SIS double crescent in exergue, References: RIC VII 214.

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