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Roman Empire. Constintine I. Medallion of 1½ solidi 326, AV 6.59g.

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:52,000.00 CHF Estimated At:65,000.00 CHF
Roman Empire. Constintine I. Medallion of 1½ solidi 326, AV 6.59g.
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The Roman Empire. Constintine I recognised augustus, 310-337. Medallion of 1 1/2 solidi, Antioch 326, AV 6.59g. D N CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust l., raising r. hand and holding globe in l. Rev. CONSTANTINVS ET CONSTANTIVS NOBB CAESS Confronted laureate busts of Constantine II and Constantius II, each wearing consular trabea and holding eagle-tipped sceptre in one hand and globe in the other; in exergue, SMAN. RIC 70. Gnecchi p. 23, 1 and pl. 8, 15. Alföldi 63. Toynbee p. 197. Kent-Hirmer pl. 162, 643. Depeyrot p. 155. Bastien, Donativa, p. 79 note 13. Of the highest rarity, the finest of only three specimens known of this fascinating issue. Well struck on a broad flan and about extremely fine / extremely fine. Ex Sternberg XXIX, 1995, 528 (illustrated on the front cover); Triton I, 1997, 1698 and NAC 24, 2002, European Nobleman, 279 sales. Reminiscent of the dynastic issues struck by the Severans precisely 125 years before, the small gold medallions comprising this and the following lot no doubt had a similar effect: to inform the world that Constantine was all-powerful, and had heirs ready to take his place. It was struck in 326, a year that started on a high note, for in the summer of the previous year Constantine had won what he considered a major victory over Arianism at the Council of Nicaea. Immediately afterward, in Nicomedia, he held the first of two celebrations of his 20th anniversary in power, his vicennalia. He spent the early part of 326 travelling between the Bosporus and Italy, and in July again celebrated his vicennalia in Rome. Though this medallion was struck for his seventh consulship, held jointly with his son Constantius II for the first time (the other son on this medallion, Constantine II had already been consul), it may have been distributed for his vicennalia, a far greater affair. More importantly, since Constantine had begun to celebrate his vicennalia in mid-325, and held his final celebration a year later in the summer of 326, this medallion almost certainly predates the later, and more important events of 326: the executions of his oldest son Crispus and Fausta, his wife of nearly two decades.