CONSTANTINE I (the Great), Roman Emperor 306-337 A.D.
Constantine the Great is known as the father of the Constantinian Dynasty. He is known as the first emperor to convert to Christianity. Constantine had a part in issuing the Edict of Milan which proclaimed religious tolerance for all religions across the empire. Constantine was a very successful general starting with his defeat of two other emperors, Maxentius and Licinius, during civil wars. He then led successful campaigns against the Franks, Alamanni, Visigoths, and Sarmatians during his reign. He built a new imperial residence in the ancient city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople. This city would later be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years. As a result, Constantine was also known as the founder of the Eastern Roman Empire. Little is really known about Constantine's conversion to Christianity. It was his sons who used Christian iconography on some of their coins. There are two well-known stories about his vision of the cross in the sky before a big battle (starting the tradition of the use of the chi-rho symbol in military, state and religious events) and his deathbed baptism.
IOVI CONSERVATORI - “to Jupiter, the Protector”
A common Roman coin reverse type in the late third century and early fourth century has the legend IOVI CONSERVATORI and shows Jupiter standing, leaning on a scepter. Jupiter holds a palladium (a globe with Victory on top of it). An eagle w/ wreath and, sometimes, a bound captive at his feet. The unabbreviated version translated as “to Jove (Jupiter), our protector”.
This coin was minted in the
ancient
city of Cyzicus, or Kyzikos, (Κύζικος) which is located on the southern
shore of the Hellespont in what is now western Turkey. During the pre-Greek through the Roman periods
it was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. It was destroyed by a series of earthquakes
during the Byzantine and early Arab periods.
Its remaining archeology includes a very large (150 meter in diameter) 3rd
century B.C. amphitheater and foundations and columns of
Hadrian’s Temple. The columns of this temple were 70 feet tall.
This coin was struck in one of many officinae
or workshops in the city. Officinae
were designated by a different letter of the Greek or Roman alphabets (in the
case of this coin by the letter A
indicating that it was struck in the 1st officina), or by certain recognizable
symbols such as palm branches, dots, stars, and sunrises.
I have collected Roman coins for many years and have always bought coins from trusted, reputable dealers. The coins I sell are ancient currency minted under the authority of the Roman Empire. The details I describe (emperor, location, legends, etc) are derived from well-known and certified attribution sources. The descriptions are guaranteed accurate as much as the condition of the coin allows. This Guarantee of Authenticity does not make any claim or estimate of the value or grades of the coin(s).
I will send each coin that I have attributed in a 2X2 coin holder on which is written all important identifiable legends and features.
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