Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 135 21 Nov 2022
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The Roman Empire. Constantine I, 307 – 337.
Divus Constantine I. Solidus, Constantinople circa 337 – 340, AV 4.45 g. DIVVS CONSTANTI - NVS AVG PATER AVGG Veiled head r. Rev. Constantine I, veiled and draped, standing r. in quadriga; the Hand of God reaching down to him. Below, CONS. C –. RIC 1. Depeyrot 1/1.
Of the highest rarity, apparently only the third specimen known. An issue of great importance
with a very unusual and interesting portrait and a reverse composition of great
fascination and symbolism. Lovely light reddish tone, an almost
invisible mark on obverse, otherwise extremely fine
Soon after celebrating Easter in AD 337, Constantine the Great fell ill near Nicomedia and took to his bed. Realising that the end was near, he had himself baptized and died on May 22 as the first Christian emperor. To commemorate his death and celebrate his memory, commemorative coins were struck depicting the dead emperor in mourning clothes, following the old Roman tradition of CONSECRATIO coinages produced to honour members of the imperial family who had ascended to the gods. However, since Constantine was a Christian it was not appropriate to suggest that he had undergone an apotheosis as a new divine emperor. Instead, he is shown on the reverse of this impressive gold solidus riding a chariot into heaven to be received into the hand of God. The type is not only remarkable for its Christianised treatment of a formerly pagan custom, but for the fact that it is counted among the few ancient coin types that are explicitly described by contemporary authors. In the Vita Constantini of Eusebius of Caesarea (IV.73), the bishop notes that after Constantine died "A coinage was also struck which bore the following device: On one side appeared the figure of our blessed prince, with the head closely veiled; the reverse exhibited him sitting as a charioteer, drawn by four horses, with a hand stretched downward from above to receive him up to heaven".
Divus Constantine I. Solidus, Constantinople circa 337 – 340, AV 4.45 g. DIVVS CONSTANTI - NVS AVG PATER AVGG Veiled head r. Rev. Constantine I, veiled and draped, standing r. in quadriga; the Hand of God reaching down to him. Below, CONS. C –. RIC 1. Depeyrot 1/1.
Of the highest rarity, apparently only the third specimen known. An issue of great importance
with a very unusual and interesting portrait and a reverse composition of great
fascination and symbolism. Lovely light reddish tone, an almost
invisible mark on obverse, otherwise extremely fine
Soon after celebrating Easter in AD 337, Constantine the Great fell ill near Nicomedia and took to his bed. Realising that the end was near, he had himself baptized and died on May 22 as the first Christian emperor. To commemorate his death and celebrate his memory, commemorative coins were struck depicting the dead emperor in mourning clothes, following the old Roman tradition of CONSECRATIO coinages produced to honour members of the imperial family who had ascended to the gods. However, since Constantine was a Christian it was not appropriate to suggest that he had undergone an apotheosis as a new divine emperor. Instead, he is shown on the reverse of this impressive gold solidus riding a chariot into heaven to be received into the hand of God. The type is not only remarkable for its Christianised treatment of a formerly pagan custom, but for the fact that it is counted among the few ancient coin types that are explicitly described by contemporary authors. In the Vita Constantini of Eusebius of Caesarea (IV.73), the bishop notes that after Constantine died "A coinage was also struck which bore the following device: On one side appeared the figure of our blessed prince, with the head closely veiled; the reverse exhibited him sitting as a charioteer, drawn by four horses, with a hand stretched downward from above to receive him up to heaven".