Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 81 25 Feb 2021
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Constantine I BI Nummus. Constantinople, AD 328. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE, Victory seated to left on cippus, palm branch in each hand, looking to right; trophy in front, at the foot of which captive kneeling to left, turning head back to right, spurned by Victory; A in left field; CONS in exergue. RIC VII 35. 3.22g, 18mm, 5h.
Near Extremely Fine; an area of flat strike. Very Rare with this mint mark.
Auctioned in association with and on behalf of Numismática Lucernae, Jaén.
The meaning of the reverse of this coin is controversial. The mainstream view has been that it commemorates a camp built on the bank of the Danube, called Dafne, mentioned by Procopius as having been built by Constantine, destroyed by barbarians, and rebuilt by Justinian (Buildings, IV.vii.5-13). However, doubt has been cast on this, particularly over the timings - the fort perhaps only being in construction at the point of the issuing of these coins. Another convincing position in the debate is that actually the reverse refers simply to Constantine's recent victory over his rival Licinius. 'Dafne' means 'laurel' in Ancient Greek, and so, by metonymy, 'victory', meaning that the reverse legend here would simply mean 'Constantinian Victory'.
Near Extremely Fine; an area of flat strike. Very Rare with this mint mark.
Auctioned in association with and on behalf of Numismática Lucernae, Jaén.
The meaning of the reverse of this coin is controversial. The mainstream view has been that it commemorates a camp built on the bank of the Danube, called Dafne, mentioned by Procopius as having been built by Constantine, destroyed by barbarians, and rebuilt by Justinian (Buildings, IV.vii.5-13). However, doubt has been cast on this, particularly over the timings - the fort perhaps only being in construction at the point of the issuing of these coins. Another convincing position in the debate is that actually the reverse refers simply to Constantine's recent victory over his rival Licinius. 'Dafne' means 'laurel' in Ancient Greek, and so, by metonymy, 'victory', meaning that the reverse legend here would simply mean 'Constantinian Victory'.