Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 106 9-10 May 2018
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Constantius II caesar, 324 – 327. Medallion of 3 solidi, Antiochia late 347–355, AV 15.75 g. FL IVL CONSTANT – TIVS PERP AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM NNN Victory standing r., foot on globe, inscribing VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX on shield held by Cupid standing l. before her; in exergue SMANT. C –. Gnecchi –. RIC –. Depeyrot –.
Apparently unrecorded. An impressive medallion with a contemporary
suspension loop. Minor edge marks and a nick on obverse field,
otherwise very fine
When Constantine the Great died in A.D. 337, his sons, Constantius II, Constantine II, and Constans divided the empire among themselves. Constantius II took possession of Constantinople and the East while his brothers squabbled over the West. By A.D. 340, Constans had killed Constantine II and in A.D. 350 Constans was murdered by the usurper Magnentius. Constantius II thenceforth ruled alone over of the entire empire. It was a reign troubled by usurpations in the West, division between Orthodox and Arian Christians, and a long, grinding war against the Sasanian Persian Empire. Nevertheless, Constantius II managed to hold the vast Roman Empire together until his death in A.D. 361. This gold medallion, which was converted into a jewellery pendant in antiquity, was struck as a military donative distributed to the army to celebrate the vicennalia (twentieth anniversary) of his reign. The debasement of the silver currency made it necessary for emperors of the late third and fourth centuries to provide regular gifts of gold to the soldiers, as this was the only true store of value. Donatives were usually distributed at the beginning of the New Year and were connected to imperial anniversaries and vows undertaken for the security of the emperor and the state. The generous provision of gold to the troops was an important security measure for emperors who were always at risk of assassination when the army was discontented. The obverse of this 3-solidi multiple carries a portrait of Constantius II in the distinctive Late Antique artistic style, which aimed more at capturing the spiritual character rather than the true physical likeness. The large pearl diadem is a far cry from the simple laurel wreath worn by earlier emperors and reflects the evolution of the emperor into an oriental-style monarch that took place in the late third century. The reverse type is a new variation on types previously employed for solidi that featured Victory seated on a pile of arms holding the left side of an inscribed shield while a Cupid held up the right side (e.g., RIC VII 44 [Aquileia], etc.). On this medallion Victory now stands up and illustrates her universal dominion by placing one foot on a globe while Cupid still holds the right side of the shield. The use of Cupid as a prop for the shield is remarkable considering that Constantius II was a Christian emperor. In the art and coinage of the pagan Roman Empire, Cupid was often present in scenes depicting Venus with the shield of Mars, making one wonder whether the die engravers consciously looked back to the pre-Christian past to design the type of this medallion and the related solidi.
Apparently unrecorded. An impressive medallion with a contemporary
suspension loop. Minor edge marks and a nick on obverse field,
otherwise very fine
When Constantine the Great died in A.D. 337, his sons, Constantius II, Constantine II, and Constans divided the empire among themselves. Constantius II took possession of Constantinople and the East while his brothers squabbled over the West. By A.D. 340, Constans had killed Constantine II and in A.D. 350 Constans was murdered by the usurper Magnentius. Constantius II thenceforth ruled alone over of the entire empire. It was a reign troubled by usurpations in the West, division between Orthodox and Arian Christians, and a long, grinding war against the Sasanian Persian Empire. Nevertheless, Constantius II managed to hold the vast Roman Empire together until his death in A.D. 361. This gold medallion, which was converted into a jewellery pendant in antiquity, was struck as a military donative distributed to the army to celebrate the vicennalia (twentieth anniversary) of his reign. The debasement of the silver currency made it necessary for emperors of the late third and fourth centuries to provide regular gifts of gold to the soldiers, as this was the only true store of value. Donatives were usually distributed at the beginning of the New Year and were connected to imperial anniversaries and vows undertaken for the security of the emperor and the state. The generous provision of gold to the troops was an important security measure for emperors who were always at risk of assassination when the army was discontented. The obverse of this 3-solidi multiple carries a portrait of Constantius II in the distinctive Late Antique artistic style, which aimed more at capturing the spiritual character rather than the true physical likeness. The large pearl diadem is a far cry from the simple laurel wreath worn by earlier emperors and reflects the evolution of the emperor into an oriental-style monarch that took place in the late third century. The reverse type is a new variation on types previously employed for solidi that featured Victory seated on a pile of arms holding the left side of an inscribed shield while a Cupid held up the right side (e.g., RIC VII 44 [Aquileia], etc.). On this medallion Victory now stands up and illustrates her universal dominion by placing one foot on a globe while Cupid still holds the right side of the shield. The use of Cupid as a prop for the shield is remarkable considering that Constantius II was a Christian emperor. In the art and coinage of the pagan Roman Empire, Cupid was often present in scenes depicting Venus with the shield of Mars, making one wonder whether the die engravers consciously looked back to the pre-Christian past to design the type of this medallion and the related solidi.