Late Roman Bronze Coins
Coin talk => COTD => Topic started by: Victor on July 01, 2020, 12:47:20 PM
a recent win, Constantine as Caesar...it looks like it will be a real nice coin in hand.
Constantine I
A.D. 307
26mm
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Prince, in military dress, holding standard in each hand; S-A across fields.
In ex. PTR
RIC VI Trier 734
Those surfaces are perfect. Looks as struck. Constantine is pretty long in the tooth when this coin is minted. I've often wondered if this coin was struck as a late attempt to imply that he had been considered for the imperial College all along. May be a little bit of numismatic illusion to reinforce a sense of planned-for legitimacy. I like all the detail on the reverse prince's attire. I'm sure there's some kind of ceremonial significance to it all.
Constantine was awarded the title "Prince of Youth" by the Senate in A.D. 306; which was historically given to the heir apparent.
Yes. Constantine seemed especially proud of that title, assuming he had something to do with the reverse type. But I think some PI coins were struck even with the AVG designation on the obverse. I just find that a bit incongruous, as if the timeline of preparation is collapsed.
Yes, Constantine referenced the title prince for years, think of the prolific VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP issued more than a decade after he became Augustus.
here's an older topic where I talked briefly about Constantine as the "eternal prince"
https://www.lateromanbronzecoinforum.com/index.php?topic=975.msg2761#msg2761
it's a pretty sharp example in hand, with lots of silvering.
A great coin indeed. Congratz