A previously unrecorded reverse for Constantine I

VICTOR CLARK

Figure 1. An unrecorded reverse of Constantine I.

Constantine I
A.D. 313
21mm 3.7g
IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
VICTORIA [AETERNA AVGG NN]; Emperor on right, in military dress, holding spear,
receiving palm branch from Victory; kneeling figure between them [holding offering].
In exergue SARL
RIC VII Arles —

The coin pictured above is a previously unknown reverse type for Constantine I. For people
interested in Constantine and his coinage, this is an exciting discovery. New types do not appear
very often and, surprisingly, this example turned up on eBay. This coin was sold as part of an
otherwise unremarkable group of coins on eBay in January of 2017.
Though this reverse type is unrecorded for Constantine, the iconography resembles some coins
minted by Maxentius from the mint of Ostia. Below are a few pictures of Ostian coinage from
Maxentius for comparison. 1

Figure 2. Ostian coinage from Maxentius

The mint of Ostia was closed in A.D. 312 after Constantine defeated Maxentius. Shortly
after, the Ostia mint transferred to Arles, sometime in early- mid A.D. 313. The new Arles mint
even struck two coins to mark the occasion of the transfer -- VTILITAS PVBLICA (RIC VII
Arles 49- 51) and PROVIDENTIAE AVGG (RIC VII Arles 30- 32). The VTILITAS reverse
depicts the mint leaving Ostia, as the prow is pointed away from the soldier, so it is departing;
while the PROVIDENTIAE type depicts the mint arriving at Arles, since the personification of
Arles is greeting it and the prow shows that it is arriving. Note the similar styles of the reverse
imagery with the Ostian coinage pictured above.

1
Vincent Drost,Le monnayage de Maxence (Société Suisse de Numismatique, 2011), plate 52, images 58- 60.
 Figure 3. VTILITAS PVBLICA and PROVIDENTIAE AVGG from Arles

Since the style is so close to Ostian coinage, it seems clear that this coin was issued
shortly after the Arles mint opened. What is not so clear though, is the reverse legend. There is
no problem reading the first word-- VICTORIA, but the rest is not so evident. Below is another
unlisted Constantine I coin, but this example is from Ostia. Note how the depiction of the
emperor closely mirrors the VICTORIA coin from Arles. The reverse legend of the Ostian coin
is VICTORIA AET AVGGG NNN. Three emperors are recognized on this coin- Constantine I,
Licinius I and Maximinus II.

Figure 4. Bronze coin of Constantine I from Ostia

Arles did not issue any coins in the name of Maximinus II, so it must have begun striking
coins circa April 313, after hostilities began between Maximinus II and Licinius I. Accordingly,
the reverse from Arles would only name two Emperors-- like AVGG NN. It is tempting to
associate the kneeling figure on the reverse of the VICTORIA coin from Arles with Maximinus
II.

The reverse legend is just not certain, VICTORIA AETERNA AVGG NN (or some
variation) would seem obvious based on the Ostia coin; but the legend after VICTORIA is not
clear. There are several possibilities that make sense, which of course could include any
variations of said legends, most likely plural for two emperors, coupled with AVGG, AVGG N,
AVGG NN, etc. It seems the second letter in the word after VICTORIA is an "E" which helps a
little, so obvious possibilities include VICTORIA AE[TERNA], VICTORIA PE[RPETVA] or
VICTORIA FE[LICITAS].

This coin is now back in France at the Arles Museum of Antiquity. Hopefully it will be
on display for the public soon.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bruun, Patrick M. Roman Imperial Coinage Volume VII: Constantine and Licinius. London:
Spink & Son, 1997.
Drost, Vincent. Le monnayage de Maxence (306-312 après J.-C.).Société Suisse de
Numismatique, 2011.
Ferrando, Philippe. L’atelier monétaire d’Arles. De Constantin le Grand à Romulus Augustule,
313-476. France: P. Ferrando, 2010.