Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Constans, 337 – 350. Medallion of four heavy siliquae or three light miliarenses, Thessalonica 340-350, AR 12.72 g.

Description: FL IVL CONSTANS – PIVS FELIX AVG Laureate and rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. TRIVMFATOR – GENTIVM BARBARARVM Emperor standing l., in military attire, holding standard and resting hand on shield set on ground; in exergue, TES.

References: C 114
Gnecchi 21
BMC Medallion 3
RIC 80
Condition:Very rare. A spectacular medallion struck on an exceptionally fresh metal. An excellent portrait and a finely engraved reverse composition. Superb iridescent tone and good extremely fine
Provenance: Hess-Divo sale 324, 2013, 110

Note: The reverse of this medallion, inscribed TRIVMFATOR GENTIVM BARBARARVM ('triumfator over the barbarian nations'), is a gloating celebration of Roman supremacy over its foreign enemies. The claim was well deserved in the era of the Constantinian dynasty: foreign enemies had been thoroughly dominated by Constantine I, a state of affairs that may have persisted for some time had he not antagonized the Sasanians just prior to his death in 337. The recent record of his sons also was laudable. Though Constantius II, in the East, was burdened with a long and persistent war with the Sasanians, success was more visible in the West. The issuer of this piece, the Western emperor Constans, had defeated the Sarmatians in 339, and in 342 had scored a resounding victory over the Franks. It would seem that this medallion celebrates that recent victory over the Franks, and was perhaps distributed as a bonus to troops. It may also have been associated with the beginning of his tenth anniversary (decennalia), which began on December 25, 342 and was followed by a visit to Britain, which required a winter crossing of the channel early in 343. This boastful type was an invention of Constans who struck it only at mints under his control: Trier, Aquileia, Siscia and Thessalonica. It took the form of silver medallions and miliarenses that Constans struck in his name and on behalf of his brother Constantius II. Later emperors also adopted the type, with the most exceptional case being the rebel Magnentius, who struck silver medallions of the same weight after he overthrew Constans and assumed control of Italy. The weight of these medallions is of some interest, for they consistently weigh about 13 grams (slightly less than 12 scruples), meaning about 25 were produced per Roman pound of silver. They were nearly the equivalent of three light miliarenses or four heavy siliquae and, depending on the prevailing gold-to-silver exchange ratio, approximately five would have been equal to a gold solidus.