Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVI 26 Sep 2018
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Constantine I AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 324-325. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head right / ADVENTVS AVGVSTI N, Constantine on horseback to left, cloak flying, raising right hand and holding spear in left; SMAN* in exergue. RIC 48 (this coin cited); C. 11; Alföldi 5; Depeyrot 41/1. 4.42g, 20mm, 11h.
Good Extremely Fine; light marks on reverse. Extremely Rare.
This coin cited in H. Mattingly, et al, The Roman Imperial Coinage Vol. VII (1966);
Ex Leu 91, 10 May 2004, lot 689;
Ex Hess-Leu 45, 12 May 1970, lot 645;
Ex Hess-Leu 24, 16 April 1964, lot 356;
Ex Münzen & Medaillen 13, 17-19 June 1954, lot 762.
The tetrarchy that had effectively governed the affairs of the empire since the reign of Diocletian broke down irretrievably in its third generation and culminated in the civil war between Licinius in the East and Constantine in the West. With Constantine victorious following the Battle of Chrysopolis on 18 September 324, he became the first sole emperor to rule over the Roman territories since the institution of the tetrarchy in AD 293. This coin commemorates the planned adventus (arrival) of the emperor Constantine I into the Eastern city of Antioch - formerly under the dominion of Licinius - an event for which the mint of Antioch clearly made preparations, but which was cancelled by Constantine who blamed the controversy between the bishop of Alexandria and Arius regarding the nature of Christ's personhood as the reason for his decision not to go East as planned. This coin therefore stands as an unusual record of a celebration that never took place, which may perhaps explain its extreme rarity - the issue having either been prematurely aborted, or recalled.
The adventus coin type with an emperor on horseback was first introduced by Trajan, although precursors can be found in earlier coinage. This coin follows the traditional adventus design, showing the emperor mounted and riding forward with his cloak billowing and his arm raised in a gesture of greeting with the reverse legend explicitly highlighting "the arrival of our emperor". The adventus of an emperor was marked with great ceremony by the inhabitants of a city and normally involved processions, honours, speeches and gifts in addition to possible benefits to the city itself such as when Constantine I gave tax relief to the city of Augustodunum (modern day Autun).
Good Extremely Fine; light marks on reverse. Extremely Rare.
This coin cited in H. Mattingly, et al, The Roman Imperial Coinage Vol. VII (1966);
Ex Leu 91, 10 May 2004, lot 689;
Ex Hess-Leu 45, 12 May 1970, lot 645;
Ex Hess-Leu 24, 16 April 1964, lot 356;
Ex Münzen & Medaillen 13, 17-19 June 1954, lot 762.
The tetrarchy that had effectively governed the affairs of the empire since the reign of Diocletian broke down irretrievably in its third generation and culminated in the civil war between Licinius in the East and Constantine in the West. With Constantine victorious following the Battle of Chrysopolis on 18 September 324, he became the first sole emperor to rule over the Roman territories since the institution of the tetrarchy in AD 293. This coin commemorates the planned adventus (arrival) of the emperor Constantine I into the Eastern city of Antioch - formerly under the dominion of Licinius - an event for which the mint of Antioch clearly made preparations, but which was cancelled by Constantine who blamed the controversy between the bishop of Alexandria and Arius regarding the nature of Christ's personhood as the reason for his decision not to go East as planned. This coin therefore stands as an unusual record of a celebration that never took place, which may perhaps explain its extreme rarity - the issue having either been prematurely aborted, or recalled.
The adventus coin type with an emperor on horseback was first introduced by Trajan, although precursors can be found in earlier coinage. This coin follows the traditional adventus design, showing the emperor mounted and riding forward with his cloak billowing and his arm raised in a gesture of greeting with the reverse legend explicitly highlighting "the arrival of our emperor". The adventus of an emperor was marked with great ceremony by the inhabitants of a city and normally involved processions, honours, speeches and gifts in addition to possible benefits to the city itself such as when Constantine I gave tax relief to the city of Augustodunum (modern day Autun).