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Around 270 AD, Flavia Iulia Helena (c. 250 – c. 330) tended bar at her father’s tavern in Naissus. The establishment’s location, at the crossroads of the eastern and western portions of the Roman Empire, ensured a steady stream of patrons, for instance Roman military personnel. On a particular occasion, one such customer, a certain Flavius Valerius Constantius, happened to be wearing the same bracelet as Helena. Whether an effective pick-up strategy or a divine portent, Constantius’ meeting with Helena eventually led to marriage and a son, Constantine I. It is not certain if their marriage abided by common law, or whether Helena might even fit the title of concubine. Regardless of couple’s precise legal status, Constantius severed the arrangement sometime before 289 AD, in order to re-marry, this time into the imperial family, promoting his own career development.
Helena never remarried, and lived in obscurity for some time. She remained close to her son, and in turn Constantine (officially remaining under his father’s grooming) kept a strong bond with his mother. Their bond lasted all during Constantine's rise in power, a trajectory that saw him replace his deceased father as Augustus of the Western, and later, entire, Roman Empire. With his new status, Constantine was able to bring his mother back into public life, even including her among his imperial court.
Constantine honored Helen – making up for his father’s inability to do so – by bestowing upon her the title of Nobilissima Feminina, noble among women. Helen provided important imperial counsel, earning the title Augusta Imperatrix, an honor bestowed upon previous imperial matriarchs.
Helen is best known for her support of Christianity, a relatively new religion spreading throughout the Roman Empire. After centuries of imperial persecutions, Christians became officially tolerated according to the Edict of Milan. Moreover, Constantine employed the Christian faith and its symbolism to inspire his armies. Soon the practice of Christianity became not only allowed but encouraged, to the point where it evolved into the official state religion.
As such, it was important to seek out important Judeo-Christian relics and claim them for the Roman Empire. To this end, Helena set out in late 320s AD to Palestine, where she remained for several years. With imperial funding at her discretion, Helen founded several important Christian churches in the region, including one in the vicinity of Calvary. The excavations and related searches uncovered a variety of interesting religious items, such as remains of a tunic, a cross, pieces of rope, and even some nails, all reportedly originating from Christ’s crucifixion. Wishing to provide her son with divine support in running the Roman Empire, Helena had one of the nails placed in Constantine’s helmet, and another in the bridle of his horse. Interest and research into Helena’s discoveries, particular the legend of the “true cross,” continues to this day. For her religious contributions, Helena is considered today as a saint according to many Christian denominations.
This follis was struck in Siscia following Helena’s return from her successful Holy lands expedition. The obverse portrays Helena’s diademed and mantled bust with the accompanying legend, FL HELENA AVGVSTA. Helen’s visage appears relatively young, considering she was probably in her seventies at this time, around 328-329 AD. On the verso sits Securitas, the Roman female embodiment of the same, holding a branch, with the epithet SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE, promoting the security of the republic. Helena died of natural causes shortly thereafter, although her coinage continued posthumously for a while. Importantly, it would be several decades until an Augusta would again be honored on coinage.
Helena fostered the Roman Empire's security by bearing, raising, and advising her son Constantine. Moreover, she played a significant role in promoting the spread of Christianity throughout the provinces. These efforts, in turn, profoundly impacted the future course of the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire that evolved therefrom. Indeed, Helena left behind an impressive legacy for an ex-bartender from the crossroads of the Empire.
Additional Reading: J W Drijvers, "Helena Augusta: Cross and Myth. Some new Reflections", Yearbook on the Culture and History of the First Millennium C.E. (2011), 125-174.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Helena, AE Follis, Struck in Siscia 328-329 AD, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Diademed, mantled bust right, wearing necklace, FL HELENA AVGVSTA, Reverse: Securitas standing left, lowering branch in right hand and raising hem of robe with left, SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE, mintmark epsilon SIS double-crescent in exergue, References: RIC VII Siscia 218; Sear 16610; LRBC 741.