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Flavius Julius Crispus (c. 300-326 AD) was the child of Constantine the Great and Minervina. It is unclear whether Minervina was Constantine’s wife or concubine, in any case, Constantine later married Fausta, daughter of Maximian and sister of Maxentius, as part of a political deal paving the way for his ascension. Interestingly, the situation was similar to that of Constantine’s mother and father; Constantius divorced Helen and married Theodora in the name of political career advancement.
Perhaps following his father’s example, Constantine took in Crispus, and by all accounts was a loving and protective father. Crispus was well educated, taught by the most accomplished Christian teaches of the time. By 317 AD, the Roman Empire was divided between Constantine in the west and Licinius in the east, and at that time Crispus was named as co-Caesar, along with half-brother Constantine II. Since the latter was only an infant at the time, Crispus assumed all the duties of Caesar.
Crispus was appointed Commander of Gaul, and in subsequent years achieved several military victories against the Franks and Alamanni. Returning to Rome in 322 AD he and his father were received by an adoring crowd. Thereafter, Crispus joined his father in campaigning against Licinius, to determine the fate of the entire Empire. Crispus successfully led two major battles, even when odds were against him, paving the way for his father to become sole Augustus of the entire Empire.
This billon nummus was issued in the early 320s AD and depicts a laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Crispus declaring him noble Caesar, CRISPVS NOB CAES. On the verso is a laurel wreath, certainly reflecting military accomplishments, surrounded by the inscription DOMINOR NOSTROR CAESS, signifying “our Lord Caesar” (the double S denotes that there were co-Caesars, and very similar coins were issued for Constantine II). Within the wreath the letters VOT X are inscribed, signifying a vow for Caesar to serve for (at least) ten years.
As it turned out, Crispus did not reach a decade’s tenure. In 326 AD, Constantine ordered the execution of his firstborn son, and several months later, his wife as well. The exact events leading up to Constantine’s termination of Crispus and Fausta are uncertain. A widely held theory posits Fausta, jealous of Crispus and desiring her own children for the future throne, falsely accused her stepson of rape. The enraged Augustus responded by ordering Crispus’ execution, and, after discovering his mistake afterwards, had his deceitful wife killed as well. Interestingly, the relationship between Crispus and his stepmother Fausta paralleled that of Constantine and his own stepmother Theodora, although the exact bond between the latter two remains unknown. Whatever the exact proceedings, the result was that Constantine not only ordered the executions, but also invoked
damnatio memoriae to erase all memories of Fausta and Crispus from existence. Nonetheless, some coins such as this one, happened to survive the condemnation.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Crispus, as Caesar 316-326 AD, AE3 (Billon Nummus) (2.63 g), Minted 320-321 AD at Ticinum, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, CRISPVS NOB CAES (no break), Reverse: DOMINOR dot NOSTROR dot CAESS around laurel wreath enclosing VOT /dot/X, TT in exergue (note the certification incorrectly lists campgate for the verso), Reference: RIC VII 155.