Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 106 9-10 May 2018
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Constantine I, 307 – 337. Solidus, Arles 313, AV 4.30 g. CONSTANTI – NVS P F AVG Laureate head r. Rev. PRINCIPIS PROVIDENTISSIMI Owl standing l. on column inscribed SAP / IEN / TIA. On ground l., helmet and to r., shield and spear. In exergue, SARL. C 453. RIC 3. Alföldi 423. Depeyrot 1/2.
Extremely rare. A very interesting and fascinating reverse type. About extremely fine
Ex Triton XV, 2012, 1558; Künker 216, 2012, 1281 and Rauch 92, 2013, 1467 sales.
The reverse type of this solidus struck at Arles is almost as interesting and enigmatic as it is rare. A tall column inscribed SAPIENTIA ("wisdom") stands surrounded by the attributes of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. Her bird, the owl, is perched atop the column while her helmet, shield, and spear are propped at its base. The entire type is surrounded by a legend lauding the "most farsighted emperor." The precise political context of the type is uncertain, but considering that it is dated to A.D. 313 one wonders whether it might not refer to the Edict of Milan, which was promulgated by Constantine and his eastern colleague, Licinius, in that year. This important imperial edict guaranteed the full rights of Christian citizens of the Roman Empire and ordered the restoration of property taken from them during the previous persecutions. In A.D. 302-303, the eastern Augustus, Diocletian, and his Caesar, Galerius, had ordered increasingly severe persecutions of Christians out of fear that their religion was a threat to the protection afforded to the empire by the traditional Roman gods. Suspected Christians were required to make sacrifice to the gods like everyone else, but if they refused they faced confiscation of property, imprisonment, and death - sometimes by horrific means. Galerius ended the persecutions in A.D. 311 when he issued his Edict of Toleration. This edict granted legal status to Christianity, but did nothing to restore property or undo any of the damage of the pervious persecutions. The Edict of Milan, however, attempted to restore social and religious stability in the empire by applying justice to the wronged Christians. Constantine subsequently began to favor Christians, built churches, and founded his new capital, Constantinople, as a Christian city. In 380, the emperors Theodosius I, Gratian, and Valentinian II proclaimed the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine had been farsighted indeed.
Extremely rare. A very interesting and fascinating reverse type. About extremely fine
Ex Triton XV, 2012, 1558; Künker 216, 2012, 1281 and Rauch 92, 2013, 1467 sales.
The reverse type of this solidus struck at Arles is almost as interesting and enigmatic as it is rare. A tall column inscribed SAPIENTIA ("wisdom") stands surrounded by the attributes of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom. Her bird, the owl, is perched atop the column while her helmet, shield, and spear are propped at its base. The entire type is surrounded by a legend lauding the "most farsighted emperor." The precise political context of the type is uncertain, but considering that it is dated to A.D. 313 one wonders whether it might not refer to the Edict of Milan, which was promulgated by Constantine and his eastern colleague, Licinius, in that year. This important imperial edict guaranteed the full rights of Christian citizens of the Roman Empire and ordered the restoration of property taken from them during the previous persecutions. In A.D. 302-303, the eastern Augustus, Diocletian, and his Caesar, Galerius, had ordered increasingly severe persecutions of Christians out of fear that their religion was a threat to the protection afforded to the empire by the traditional Roman gods. Suspected Christians were required to make sacrifice to the gods like everyone else, but if they refused they faced confiscation of property, imprisonment, and death - sometimes by horrific means. Galerius ended the persecutions in A.D. 311 when he issued his Edict of Toleration. This edict granted legal status to Christianity, but did nothing to restore property or undo any of the damage of the pervious persecutions. The Edict of Milan, however, attempted to restore social and religious stability in the empire by applying justice to the wronged Christians. Constantine subsequently began to favor Christians, built churches, and founded his new capital, Constantinople, as a Christian city. In 380, the emperors Theodosius I, Gratian, and Valentinian II proclaimed the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Constantine had been farsighted indeed.