Commemorative Coins

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  Constantine and his sons issued a few different types of commemoratives from 330-346. These were issued to mark the foundation of Constantinople and to also re-affirm Rome as the traditional center of the Empire. Thirteen mints produced these types: Trier, Lugdunum (Lyons), Arelate (Arles), Aquileia, Rome, Siscia, Thessalonica, Heraclea, Constantinople, Nicomedia, Cyzicus, Antioch and Alexandria. The two most common are the CONSTANTINOPOLIS (Victory on a prow) and VRBS ROMA (wolf and twins) types. The female figure on the obverse is the personification of Constantinople or Rome. The wolf and twins type depict Romulus and Remus (the founders of Rome) being suckled by the she-wolf. The two stars on the reverse represent the dioscuri ( the twins Castor and Pollux).

    The victory on a prow type alludes to the naval victory of Crispus and his subsequent capture of Byzantium (soon to be re-named Constantinople). Zosimus said that Constantine's fleet had 200 ships and Licinius had 350 ships. Zosimus might have exaggerated, but all sources agreed that Constantine's fleet was greatly outnumbered. What accounted for the surprise victory of Constantine's forces? Could it have been that Constantine had better trained sailors...maybe divine providence? A papyrus letter from circa A.D. 323, gives an answer. The letter is from a procurator who said that the government of Egypt had an urgent requirement of box and acanthus wood for repair of the men-at-war vessels in the arsenals of Memphis and Babylon. Egypt sent a total of 130 ships to serve in the navy of Licinius, but it seems that they were all old tubs!¹

    The description in RIC describes Constantinopolis as holding reversed spear . This object might actually be a scepter, rather than a reversed spear. Compare the object with the scepter that the victory on the reverse is holding. The ends are alike--they both end in small globes.  On some coins, Constantinopolis is holding what might be considered a cross- scepter with a globe (often topped with a smaller globe). This may or may not have had Christian significance, but Constantine first used this symbolism in A.D. 315 on a silver medallion, which also has a chi-rho on the crest, issued in Ticinum. The cross-scepter imagery was later an imperial attribute and sign of power on some gold coins of Valentinian III. This symbolism, and other imagery, may not have been understood by many people at the time, though. In the sixth century, John of Ephesus wrote that the general public believed that the figure of Constantinopolis on gold coins of Justin II was actually Venus.²  It seems that a lot of the message of ancient coins was lost on the audience!

   The mints of Heraclea, Constantinople, Nicomedia and Cyzicus which surrounded the Propontis (the Sea of Marmara) dropped the S from the obverse legend. This is a regional variation and "reflects the fall of the terminal -s in the spoken language."³
 
 

Lugdunum (Lyons)	A.D. 332 17x16mm    2.4 g Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in exergue- dot in crescent PLG RIC VII  Lugdunum 256  r1
Trier	A.D. 330-1 17x16mm    2.1gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex.  TRP dot RIC VII Trier 530 c3
eyes to the heavens bust	A.D. 332-3  18mm      2.1gm  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex.  TRP star RIC VII Trier 548 c3
	A.D. 333-4 18x17mm    1.9gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  In left field wreath;in ex. TRS RIC VII Trier 554 c3 This coin is from the 'monneron' hoard
Arles	A.D. 332-3  17mm 2.3 gm  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  triple palm branch in left field, in ex. PCONST  RIC VII Arles 369 r2
	A.D. 335  18mm 2.1 gm  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  wreath in left field, in ex. SCONST  RIC VII Arles 374 r4
	A.D. 335 18x17mm     1.9gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield. Pine tree in left field, in ex. PCONST RIC VII Arles 393 r4
	A.D. 335 19mm    2.1 gms Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield. Pine tree in left field, in ex. PCONST RIC VII Arles 393 r4
Chi-rho	A.D. 336 17mm 1.8gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield. Chi-Rho in left field, in ex. PCONST RIC VII Arles 401 r3
Rome	A.D. 330 19mm     2.3g  Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in exergue  R F epsilon   RIC VII Rome  332  RF in the exergue likely stands for Roma Felix  (Happy Rome)
	A.D. 330  20x18mm 2.4g  Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in exergue dot R dot F dot epsilon dot        RIC VII  Rome 334     r4  RF in the exergue likely stands for Roma Felix  (Happy Rome)
	A.D. 330  18mm 2.5g  Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in exergue R wreath epsilon  RIC VII  Rome 355
	A.D. 330-1 17x16mm 2gm  Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in exergue R B epsilon     RIC VII Rome 339 RB in the exergue likely stands for Roma Beata (Blessed Rome) Note that Victory is not on the prow, but the prow is coming towards her. The engraver misunderstood his instructions!
	A.D. 335-6  19x18mm 2.2g  Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS  laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in exergue R star epsilon  RIC VII  Rome 371  r2 Note that Victory is not on the prow, but the prow is coming towards her. The engraver misunderstood his instructions!
Aquileia	A.D. 334- September 335  18mm 2.5gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex. AQP  RIC VII Aquileia 123 r3
	A.D. 334- September 335  19x18mm 2.1gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex. AQP  RIC VII Aquileia 123 r3
	A.D. 334- September 335  18x17mm     2.5 gm  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex. AQS  RIC VII Aquileia  123  r4
	A.D. 334- Sept. 335 20x18mm     2.3 gm Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield. * left field, in ex. AQS RIC VII  Aquileia 129     r4
	A.D. 335-336 18mm    2.7 gm Obv. CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield. F left field, in ex. AQS RIC VII  Aquileia 137    r4
Siscia	A.D. 330-3  19mm     2.3gm  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex.  BSIS  RIC VII Siscia 224 c3
	A.D. 334-5  19x18mm     2.9gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex. dot BSIS dot  RIC VII Siscia 241 c3
Thessalonica	A.D. 330-3  19x18mm 2.3 gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex. SMTS delta RIC VII Thessalonica 188 c3     Check out those curls in the hair!
	A.D. 330-3  16x16mm   2.0gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  in ex. SMTS epsilon RIC VII Thessalonica 188 r2
Heraclea	A.D. 333-6 17mm     2.8gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. SMHdelta*  RIC VII Heraclea 144 r4
	A.D. 330-3 19x18 mm   2.7gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. dot SMH gamma RIC VII Heraclea 120 r3
Constantinople	A.D. 330-333 19x18 mm    2.5g  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  CONSZ in exergue RIC VII Constantinople 63  c1
	A.D. 330-333 20 mm    2.6g  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  CONSZ in exergue RIC VII Constantinople 63  c1
Nicomedia	A.D. 330-5 20x19mm    2.6gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. SMNdelta  RIC VII Nicomedia 196 r1
Cyzicus	A.D. 330-3 17mm    2.3gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding cross- scepter with a globe.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. SMKA  RIC VII Cyzicus 92 r4
	A.D. 330-3 17x16mm    2.6gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. SMKepsilon  RIC VII Cyzicus 92 r4
	A.D. 330-3 19x18mm     2.5gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. SMKS RIC VII Cyzicus 92 r4
Antioch	A.D. 335-7 19x18mm    2.6gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter.  Rev. Victory stg. l., on prow with spear, shield. in ex.SMANI  RIC VII Antioch 114 s
Alexandria	A.D. 333-335 19x17mm    2.7g  Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter. Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.  SMALB in exergue RIC VII Alexandria  64  r1 picture from Beastcoins

unofficial

circa 337 A.D. 17mm    2.1gm Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS facing right laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding scepter. Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield. in exergue it looks like TR (P) this coin has a right facing bust. it is very good in style, but must be unofficial There was a right facing Constantinopolis copy with a similar mintmark in the Maidenhatch hoard. This hoard of fourth-century copies was found in 1970 at Maidenhatch Farm in England. Cohen also listed a right facing issue like this as number 23.

Lugdunum (Lyons)	A.D. 330-1 16mm 1.9gm  Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak.  Rev. She-wolf left suckling twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars.  dot SLG RIC VII Lugdunum (Lyons) 247 r3 from the Nether Compton hoard
Arles	A.D. 333-4 Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars. wreath (with dot) in centre PCONST  RIC VII Arles 379 r3 from the 'monneron' hoard
Siscia	A.D. 330-3 Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak.  Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars.  gamma SIS  RIC VII Siscia 222 c3
	A.D. 330-3 Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars. dot BSIS dot  RIC VII Siscia 240 r4
Trier	A.D. 332-3 15mm  1.4gm Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak.  Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars.   in ex. TR dot P  RIC VII Trier 542 c3  from an old Dutch collection—ticket says a gift from Mr. Elberling December 1864.
	A.D. 333-4 Obv. VRBS-ROMA [City of Rome] Roma, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak. Rev. She-wolf left with twins (Romulus and Remus); above, two stars.  laurel branch in center; in ex. TRP RIC VII Trier 561 c3 This coin is from the 'monneron' hoard

Cyzicus

A.D. 333-4 Obv. CONSTAN-TINOPOLI laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial mantle, holding reversed spear. Rev. GLOR-IA EXERC-ITVS dot [Glory of the Army] Two soldiers helmeted, stg. facing one another, reversed spear in outer hands, inner hands on shields resting on ground; between them one standard. SMK(?)  RIC VII Cyzicus 92

¹ C. H. Roberts, “A Footnote to the Civil War of A.D. 324.” Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 31 (1945) : 113.

²  John of Ephesus lived circa A.D. 507- 588 and spent many years in Constantinople. Translated from the original Syriac by R. Payne Smith in Ecclesiastical History of John, Bishop of Ephesus, Oxford University Press, 1860 : p. 192.

³ J. P. C. Kent,   “Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis: Medallions at the Mint of Rome.” Scripta Nummaria Roman. Essays Presented to Humphrey Sutherland. London: Spink & Son (1978) : 106.