317-337 AD "NGC Choice VF" ROME Reduced Follis CONSTANTINE II as CAESAR Heraclea

This is a “professionally graded” as Choice Very Fine, billon or low-purity silver, "Reduced Nummus” as it is called on the holder or “Reduced Follis” as it is called in the book, from the ancient Roman Empire. It was struck at the Heraclea mint between 318 and 324 AD for the young Caesar, Constantine II.
 
Constantine II was the eldest son of Constantine "The Great" and Fausta, his second wife. He was born in 316 and his father made him "Caesar" the next year in 317. When his father died 20 years later, in 337, he became Augustus and split the Empire with his two brothers. However, his reign was the shortest of Constantine’s three sons. As Augustus, Constantine II ruled Britain, Gaul (France) and Spain but was not satisfied with the division. In 340 he invaded Italy, the territory of his brother Constans, who was out of the country at the time. Constantine managed to get himself trapped in an ambush and was killed. The first son of Constantine “The Great” to die.
 
Numismatic Guaranty Corporation or “NGC” Choice Very Fine.
Weight: Not noted but about 3.30 Grams, 18 Millimeters, Billon. (Low-purity silver).
"Roman Coins & Their Values", Volume 5, by David R. Sear. #17124.

Obverse: DN • FL • CL • CONSTANTINVS • NOB • C • Dominus Noster or Our Lord, Flavius Claudius Constantine, Noble Caesar. • Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine II right.
 

Reverse: IOVI • CONS-ERVATORI • Jupiter the protector. • SMHA • In exergue is SMH for the Heraclea mint and the A of the first officina or mint workshop letter. • X / IIΓ in right field is a revaluation mark, from 25 to 12½ Denari. • Remember, it is a “Reduced” Follis or Nummus. • The Great God Jupiter, standing left, holding the Goddess Victory who crowns him in his left hand, an eagle tipped scepter in his right. To his left on the ground, another eagle with a wreath in its beak. On the ground behind him, a bound captive in big trouble.
 
To save valuable materials, the Romans did not use spaces between words. Consequently, they would "break" a word anywhere they needed to, as here in CONSERVATORI.
 

Front of the Holder.
 

Back of the Holder.
 
The Coin: A veteran example, it saw some use before it went in the ground to wait out the centuries. Then it got professionally certified and graded. Even though it has been “professionally” graded, grading is subjective, so please see the pictures and judge for yourself.
 
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