Owner Comments:
Constantine I died in 337 AD, survived by fours Caesars: his sons Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans, and his nephew Delmatius. Soon afterwards, Constantius either ordered, or at least sanctioned, the massacre of numerous relatives, including two uncles and six cousins, among them, Delmatius. The three remaining co-Augusti met to decide on division of the Roman Empire. Constantius gained the eastern provinces, including Constantinople, Thrace, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Cyrenaica; Constantine settled on Britannia, Gaul, Hispania, and Mauretania; and Constans, initially under the supervision of Constantine II, received Italy, Africa, Illyricum, Pannonia, Macedonia, and Achaea.
For the next dozen years, Constantius battled with the Sassanid Empire, led by King Sharpur II. The latter, without much progress for such a drawn out effort, and also threatened to the east by different enemies, called a truce. In the meantime, Constantine II decided to expand his influence over Constans' realm, culminating in civil war between the brothers. In 340 AD, Constantine II was killed, leaving two remaining co-Augusti.
Constantius II and Constans would reign over east and west, respectively, for the next decade. Near the end of that period, the current coin of Constantius II was struck in Arles, Gaul, under the governance of Constans. This was usual practice; Constantius also struck Constans’ coins in the eastern mints. This particular coin was struck 348 to 350 AD, after the brothers decided on a major coinage reform. The reform was to deal with the declining follis, which shrank from about 12.5 g to 1.5 g in weight (or 30 mm to 15 mm in diameter) in the first half of the 4th century AD. The new standard, called a centenionalis, weighed in at about 5 g. Coins declared a new message on the reverse: FEL TEMP REPARATIO. This stands for
felix (or perhaps
felicium)
temporum reparatio, roughly corresponding to “Happy Days are Here Again.”
Several motifs were employed along with this legend, the most popular one with Constantius has become known among ancient coin collectors today as the falling (or fallen) horseman. The basic concept: a Roman soldier spears a barbarian enemy dislodged from his horse. It might be return to glory days for the soldier, but the poor enemy is meeting his doom at the point of a spear (which on this coin, gruesomely appears inches from his face). There are a myriad of variations, depending on multiple variables, such as the stance and attire (particularly headwear) for the soldier and the enemy, the horse’s position, etc. Fans of this coin type have published much useful and interesting information about their studies. Broadly speaking, there are four types, and this particular coin is falling horseman type 2 (FH2).
Constans struck relatively few falling horseman style coins. For his FEL TEMP REPARATIO coinage he preferred to depict himself on a galley sailed by Victory (and for slightly smaller coins, a Roman soldier leading a child from a hut, see the Constans centenionalis in this NGC Ancients Custom Set). Although his coins proved quite popular with fellow Romans, Constans himself did not; he became increasingly out of favor, particularly with his military. In 350 AD, the troops at Augustodunum declared usurper Magnentius as Emperor, and the latter’s supporters killed Constans. Magnentius then struck his own adaptation, while continuing for some time to also produce Constantius’ falling horseman design. In this manner, the falling horseman coinage became popular throughout the Empire, from west to east.
What was not unanimously popular, e.g., with Constantius, was Magnentius’ ascension. Many considered him unqualified for Emperor, due to his half-Frankish descent and low social status. In the coming years, Constantius would battle Magnentius for leadership of the Roman Empire.
Additional Reading: D Smith, “FEL TEMP REPARATIO. The common coins of the mid-4th century,” and “Falling Horsemen. A ‘Mint’ set.”
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantius II, AD 337-361, Pre-Magnentian Revolt, AE Centenionalis (5.24 g), Arles mint, first officina, AD 348-350, NGC GRADE: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of the Emperor right, DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, A behind head, REVERSE: Helmeted soldier spearing fallen horseman, FEL TEMP REPARATIO, PARL in exergue, A in field, Reference: Arles 118 (or possibly Arles 120?).