Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Ursus]

A large and alost fully silvered Licinius I:

Licinius I, Roman Empire, AE1, 311 AD, Siscia mint. Obv: IMP LIC LICINIVS PF AVG; bust of Licinius I, laureate, r. Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter standing l., holding thunderbolt and sceptre; at feet, eagle with wreath in beak; in field r., B; in exergue, SIS. 27mm, 6.19g. Ref: RIC VI Siscia 22a.

A smaller coin from London (i.e. minted under Constantine!):

Licinius I, Roman Empire, AE2, 313–314 AD, London mint. Obv: IMP LICINIVS PF AVG; bust of Licinius I, laureate, cuirassed, r. Rev: GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing l., holding patera in r. hand, cornucopia in l.; in fields, S-F; in exergue, PLN. 21mm, 3.04g. Ref: RIC VII Londinium 3.

A comical Licinius II:

Licinius II, Roman Empire, AE3, 317–320 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, laureate and draped bust left, holding mappa, globe, and sceptre. Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and sceptre, captive at feet left, delta in right field. 18mm, 2.82g. Ref: RIC VII, 29 delta.

[dougsmit]

I have several Licinii but consider these special in some way. 

This is listed twice in RIC.  RIC vol VI page 224 #825 as billon and vol VII page 182 #210 where it is AE. Exactly where we cross the border and ignore the silver specks is not all that clear.  

 

Worst condition but still the coin of mine in highest demand is this from the EPWc (Eros) group. I once wanted a full set of these but never got them all. Who has a Licinius II with the mintmark?

 

I just liked the portrait style on this Heraclea.

 

What makes a good Licinius II?  From Aquileia, he looks older than his years.

 

At Heraclea, the tiny bust was used to acknowledge that Licinius II was a toddler even if he was all dressed up.  Of the mints, it is easier to find this one with good silvering.  I wonder if they used a better method of plating or if it indicates a large group of well silvered coins having been found together. 

 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I believe it now is the time for Constantine. Whether he deserves the sobriquet "the Great" or not I leave up for scholarly debate. But here is a campgate (ex-Victor Clark) and a wreath type with shiny black patina (ex-Frank Robinson auction).

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[mc9]

 

My favorite Constantine portraits :

FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C : laureate, drapped and cuirassed bust , seen from rear

GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI/N// PLC :Genius standing facing, head left, holding patera and cornucopiae; at feet, small, lighted altar.

Folles, A.D.307, Lugdunum,  RIC VI 215b

CONSTANTINVS PF AVG : laureate head right

IOVI CONSE – RVATORI /Δ// •SM•TS• : Jupiter standing facing, head left, chlamys draped from shoulder, holding globe and scepter, wreath to left

Folles, A.D.312,Thessalonica RIC VI 50b

CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG : Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right

PROVIDENTIAE AVGG / / SMNЄ : Camp gate, with two turrets and open doorway; star above

Folles, A.D.318 – 319,Nicomedia, RIC VII 156

CONSTAN-TINVS AVG : laureate bust right, wearing trabea with eagle-tipped sceptre in right hand

BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS /VO/TIS/XX// STR• : globe set on altar inscribed VO-TIS -XX; three stars above

Folles, Trier, A.D.322, RIC VII 342

CONSTANTINVS AVG :Helmeted and cuirassed bust right

VIRTVS EXERCIT / S - F / •T S• Γ•: Two captives seated at base of standard inscribed VOT XX in two lines.

Follis, Thessalonica, A.D.320, RIC VII 75

IMP CONSTAN-TINVS MAX AVG : laureate, helmeted and cuirassed bust to right

VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP/ VOT/PR// ST : two Victories standing facing each other, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR in two lines on altar

Folles, A.D.318 - 319, Ticinum, RIC VII 82

 

 

[kapphnwn]

Constantine I Ae Half Follis Treveri 310-311 AD Obv bust right laureate cuirassed Rv Sol standing left holding globe. RIC 899 2.18 grms 16 mm Photo by W. HansenI imagine given the rate of reduction keeping this denomination going must have been something of a challenge.  

[Romancollector]

I imagine that Constantine will have the most entries out of all the emperors given the abundance and accessibility of his coinage. Here's my contribution. 

AR Half Argenteus from Trier ex. British Museum collection

Edited April 18, 2023 by Romancollector

[wittwolff]

Here a nice armored and helmeted bust:

And here two later sole reign types:

[Qcumbor]

My best Constantine the Great 

Constantine the Great, follis -  Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina, c. AD 311
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right
VIRTVTIE-XERCITVS Mars/Virtus advancing right in military dress, holding transverse spear and shield ; trophy over shoulder. B in right field. SMN in exergue.
4.88 gr, 22 mm
RIC-, C-, Roman coins -
RIC lists this type only for Licinius and Maximinus . "Iovi Conservatori and Virtuti Exercitus both appear for Licinius and Maximinus, emissions for the former being the more scarce: coinage for Constantine is extremely rare. Date, c. 311". Coin should be listed after NICOMEDIA 70c.
Please see Victor Clarks website for further information at :http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/unlisted/

Q

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

@wittwolff -Somebody told me that the bust pictured in figure 1 reminds them of Rocky Balboa ( e.g., Sylvester Stallone). 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[CPK]

Yes! Been waiting for this. Constantine is one of the most fascinating figures of ancient history!

The numismatic portraiture under Constantine takes a step back toward individualized portraits, from the deliberate, idealized uniformity presented by the Tetrarchy.

Here is my favorite coin of Constantine - such a majestic and detailed portrait -

 

I also like this earlier portrait from London:

 

[DonnaML]

For no particular reason, I have only four coins of Constantine I, only two of which even bear his portrait:

Constantine I, AE Follis or Nummus, 1/72 to the pound, mid-310 to late 311 AD, Londinium Mint. Obv. Laurate and cuirassed bust right, IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG / Rev. Radiate Sol standing facing, head left, with weight on right foot, left shoulder draped in chlamys, right hand raised, and banded globe (representing cosmos) held in left hand, SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI around, T - F across fields*, PLN [mint mark for Londinium Mint] in exergue. 24 mm., 4.90 g., 6 h. RIC VI Londinium 121a (Group III, p. 133), Sear RCV IV 16046 (p. 462) (dating the type to AD 310). Purchased from London Ancient Coins, 2 Jan. 2023, ex CGB.fr; ex Chitry Hoard (discovered 2007), Coin no. 46.** 

*Reid Goldsborough suggested that “[t]he T/F on either side of Sol likely means ‘TEMPORVM FELICITAS’ or ‘The happiness of the age.’" See http://rg.ancients.info/constantine/Sol_other.html.

**See Vincent Drost, “Le trésor constantinien de Chitry (Yonne) (terminus 323/324 après J.-C.),” Étude et Catalogue, in Michel Amandry, ed., Trésors monétaires XXV (Éditions de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques, 2013) (available at https://books.openedition.org/editionsbnf/547 ). As summarized in the English version of the Abstract of the portion of the book (pp. 177-243) dealing with the Chitry Hoard (see https://books.openedition.org/editionsbnf/678?lang=en ) :

“The Chitry Hoard (Yonne) [a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France] was discovered in 2007. It is made up of about 2,500 coins of the late Third and the early Fourth Century. Except for a single coin struck at the London mint in 323/4 which determines its terminal date, the Chitry Hoard belongs to a group of treasures coming up against the monetary reform of 318. This short-term accumulation has been carried out between 310 and 318. The nummi struck at 1/72 to the pound represents one quarter of the hoard whereas the ones struck at 1/96 to the pound supplies with the three quarters. The Chitry Hoard is the first treasure of that kind from Central Gaul to be thoroughly published. It provides essential data regarding the monetary circulation in this area during the 310's. It also brings previously unpublished types and contributes to a better understanding of some aspects of the Constantinian coinage struck in Gaul and Britain.”

The circumstances of the discovery, discussed at the beginning of the Preface to the Chitry Hoard section, are also of interest. Supposedly, on 7 Sep. 2007, an individual residing in a house built in 1792 found the coins, together with some 18th century tiles, in a niche he discovered behind a stone in a wall of the cellar beneath his house. This implied a prior 18th century discovery and re-deposit of the hoard. Under French law, this enabled the sale of the hoard to CGB, which deposited it with the Bibliothèque nationale for study before it was sold. M. Drost states that these claimed circumstances are “unusual but not unthinkable,” expressing skepticism for various reasons. 

In any event, according to the catalogue of the Chitry Hoard (see https://books.openedition.org/editionsbnf/1115 ), 470 of the 2,492 coins in the hoard were minted in Londinium. 197 of those 470 were Nummi at 1/72 to the pound. Out of those 197, there were 68 coins in the hoard (Nos. 38-103, including my specimen) of the RIC VI Londinium 121a type, with SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI and T/F//PLN on the reverse. The BNF has dated these coins to the period from mid-310 to late 311 AD, and I have adopted those dates in my description above, rather than Sear’s AD 310 date. 

Constantine  I, silvered billon Centenionalis, Siscia Mint 321-24 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, CONSTAN-TINVS AVG/ Rev. D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, laurel wreath enclosing VOT/•/XX. Mintmark Γ[gamma]SIS followed by sunburst/radiate semicircle [= Siscia mint, 3rd officina]. RIC VII 180 (p. 446), Sear RCV IV 16220. 20 mm., 3.38 g.

Constantine I, Billon reduced Centenionalis, Trier Mint 330-331 AD. Obv. VRBS ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma left/ Rev. She-wolf stg. left suckling twins (Romulus & Remus), 2 stars above; TRP• [Trier, First officina] in exergue. RIC VII 529, Sear RCV IV 16487. 17 mm., 2.4 g. (Found by metal detecting in Wiltshire, England, 2014). 

Constantine I, Billon reduced Centenionalis, Siscia Mint 334-335 AD. Obv. Bust of Constantinopolis left, wearing laureate helmet and imperial robes, & holding scepter over left shoulder, CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS / Rev. Winged Victory standing left, right foot set on ship’s prow, holding transverse scepter in right hand and resting left hand on shield; • BSIS • [Siscia, Second officina] in exergue. RIC VII 241 (p. 456), Sear RCV IV 16469. 18 mm., 2.5 g.

Edited April 18, 2023 by DonnaML

[expat]

At the moment I have only 1 which was in a group lot of semi-cleaned.

 

 

[Hughie Dwyer]

Just the one from me

 

[Hughie Dwyer]

Oops, maybe another!😄

This one is similar to the one @DonnaML showed - though yours is much nicer!🤣

 

[Curtisimo]

Turns out my collection is pretty lean on nice portraits of Constantine… 

Roman Empire
Constantine I, AD 306-337
AE Follis, Cyzicus mint, 6th officina, struck ca. 313-315
Dia.: 21 mm
Wt.: 3.8 g
Obv.: IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right
Rev.: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, holding globe surmounted by Victory in right hand, holding scepter in left hand; eagle holding wreath in beak at left; S // SMK
Ref.: RIC VII 3
Ex JAZ Numismatics

[John Conduitt]

Constantine I Follis, 309-311

Londinium. Bronze, 24mm, 4.32g. Laureate and cuirassed bust right; IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG. Sol standing left, holding globe and raising hand;  SOLI INVICTO COMITI; T F; PLN in exergue (RIC VI, 121a). Ex Ken Bressett; from the Little Orme’s Head (North Wales) Hoard 1873 of 5,000 coins found in an urn in Penrhyn Bay.

[expat]

Forgot about my City Commemorative

 

[Jims,Coins]

- Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at R S=Rome during the reign of Constantine I, The Great between 312 - 313 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.CONSTANTINVS.P.F.AVG. Rev. S.P.Q.R. OPTIMO.PRINCIPI. Legionary eagle (facing l. to r.) between two vexilla. RCS #3869. RICVI #345 pg.390. DVM #64.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at Rome during the reign of Constantine I, The Great in 325 A.D. Obv. IMP.CONSTANTINVS.MAX.AVG. Helmeted & cuir. bust right. Rev. VICTORIAE.LAETAE.PRINC.PERP.VOT. P.R. Two Victories resting shield, inscribed VOT.PR. on altar.  RCS #3883. DVM #90.

Bronze coin (AE reduced Follis) minted at London during the reign of CONSTANTINE I, The Great between 307 – 337 A.D. Obv. CONSTANTINVS.P.F.AVG. Laur., dr., cuir. bust r. Rev. COMITI.AVGG.NN. Sol stg. l., chlamys falling from l. shoulder, r. holding up globe, l. whip. Detail of F-VF but technically much better with hardly any wear, but softly struck in centers, glossy dark silvery brown surfaces. Scarce type.

 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

5 minutes ago, Jims,Coins said:

- Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at R S=Rome during the reign of Constantine I, The Great between 312 - 313 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.CONSTANTINVS.P.F.AVG. Rev. S.P.Q.R. OPTIMO.PRINCIPI. Legionary eagle (facing l. to r.) between two vexilla. RCS #3869. RICVI #345 pg.390. DVM #64.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at Rome during the reign of Constantine I, The Great in 325 A.D. Obv. IMP.CONSTANTINVS.MAX.AVG. Helmeted & cuir. bust right. Rev. VICTORIAE.LAETAE.PRINC.PERP.VOT. P.R. Two Victories resting shield, inscribed VOT.PR. on altar.  RCS #3883. DVM #90.

Bronze coin (AE reduced Follis) minted at London during the reign of CONSTANTINE I, The Great between 307 – 337 A.D. Obv. CONSTANTINVS.P.F.AVG. Laur., dr., cuir. bust r. Rev. COMITI.AVGG.NN. Sol stg. l., chlamys falling from l. shoulder, r. holding up globe, l. whip. Detail of F-VF but technically much better with hardly any wear, but softly struck in centers, glossy dark silvery brown surfaces. Scarce type.

 

Presumably the SPQR type was a historical throwback after the defeat of the Rome-oriented Maxentius. It seems these emperors of the Dominate could care less about the Senate, going back to Diocletian and the Tetrarchy...nice coins

[Sulla80]

Constantine I, 307/310-337. Follis Nicomedia, circa 312. IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Laureate head of Constantine I to right. Rev. GENIO A-VGVSTI / B / SMN Genius, nude but for chlamys, standing front, head to left, wearing kalathos and holding patera from which liquor flows over lighted altar in his right hand and cornucopiae in his left.

[Octavius]

 Ae camp gate of Constantine the Great , from Antioch....

[Limes]

My favorite portrait of Constantine:

[Jims,Coins]

- Bronze coin (AE 3/4) minted at Alexandria during the reign of Constantine I, The Great in 330 A.D. Obv. CONSTANTINVS.MAX.AVG. diad. & cuir. bust r. Rev. GLORIA.EXERCITVS. Two Soldiers standing facing one another, each holding reversed spear and resting hand on shield; between them two standards. RCS #3886. RICVII #58. DVM #94 pg.712. LRBC #1435.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at Cyzicus during the reign of Constantine I, The Great between 317-320 A.D. Obv. IMP.CONSTA-NTINVS.AVG. laur., dr., globe, sceptre in l. hand, mappa in r. hand, bust left. Rev. IOVI.CONSERVATORI.AVGG. Jupiter standing facing, hd. l., chlamys hanging from l. shoulder, r. holding Victory on globe, l. leaning on sceptre; wreath at feet to l. DVM #50 pg.290 RICVII #8 pg. 644.

[O-Towner]

Ae Follis : Rome mint  (19.2mm, 3.8gms) 

Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate, helmeted and cuirassed bust right

Rev: VIRTVS AVGG; Campgate with closed doors and three turrets, P – R to either side; R S in exergue

Ref: RIC 176

Ae Follis : Rome mint, struck 320 AD (18.5mm, 3.0gms) 

Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG; Helmeted and cuirassed bust right

Rev: VOT X / ET XV F / RS in three lines within wreath

Ref: RIC 207

Ae Follis : Antioch mint (18.0mm, 2.5gms) 

Obv: (Anepigraphic); Laureate bust right

Rev: CONSTAN / TINVS / AVG / SMANTS in four lines; wreath above

Ref: RIC 57

[Severus Alexander]

I have quite a few portraits of Constantine that I really like.  My top 2:

^ The out-of-proportion face, especially the eye, compared to the helmet charmed me so much I had to have this coin!

The black-and-tan patina on this campgate from Nicomedia really sets off the stark portrait nicely:

 

As I said, those are my two favourites - at least today!  Here are some runners-up.  A late style Antioch:

And here's an early one, as Caesar (gotta love that eyebrow):

Rome style after the Milvian bridge:

^ this second example, PACI PERPET, is very small, just 16mm. (@CPK, I gotta find a Rome example like yours! Fabulous!)

The obligatory "eyes to heaven":

Early Constantinople style:

And a cool helmet from Trier:

Finally, here's a silly one. The reverse of this Bosporan coin is probably supposed to be Constantine (though there's a small possibility it may be Licinius instead):

^ Rhescuporis VI (308-342), dated 324/5