HELENA – SAINT AND MOTHER OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT
AD 324-328/30 BI NUMMUS (AE4) (FOLLIS) COIN (POSTHUMOUS ISSUE)
GRADED BY NGC MS
OBV: DIADEMED AND MANTLED BUST OF HELENA RIGHT.
REV: DRAPED FULL STANDING FIGURE OF THE GODDESS PAX LEFT, WITH OUTSTRETCHED RIGHT HAND WITH BRANCH, AND WITH LONG SCEPTER HELD IN LEFT HAND; MINT MARK AT BOTTOM.
FLAVIA JULIA HELENA AUGUSTA (SAINT HELENA) WAS A NATIVE BORN GREEK WHO BECAME THE CONSORT OF EMPEROR CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS AND THE MOTHER OF EMPEROR CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.
HELENA WAS A CHRISTIAN, AND HER IMPORTANCE TO HISTORY AND HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE HEGEMONY OF CHRISTIANITY OVER WESTERN CIVILIZATION IS DUE TO THE INFLUENCE SHE HELD OVER HER SON.
IT IS UNCERTAIN IF HELENA WAS THE WIFE OR CONCUBINE OF CONSTANTIUS CHLORUS, BUT IT IS KNOWN THAT THE EMPEROR MAXIMIAN, JUNIOR CO-RULER WITH DIOCLETIAN, COMMANDED CONSTANTIUS TO SET ASIDE HELENA TO MARRY HIS DAUGHTER THEODORA. CONSTANTINE WENT WITH HIS MOTHER TO LIVE AT THE COURT OF DIOCLETIAN OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE.
AFTER THE DEATH OF CONSTANTIUS, AND THE RISE OF CONSTANTINE TO AUGUSTUS (EMPEROR), HELENA WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO PUBLIC LIFE BY HER SON. HE GAVE HER THE TITLE OF AUGUSTA (EMPRESS) IN 325. HE ALSO GAVE HER UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IMPERIAL TREASURY TO LOCATE RELICS ASSOCIATED WITH HER CHRISTIAN FAITH. FROM 326 TO 328 SHE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT PALESTINE, ORDERED CHURCHES TO BE BUILT IN BETHLEHEM, THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND OTHER PLACES IMPORTANT TO THE FAITH, AND IS ACCREDITED WITH FINDING AND ASCERTAINING THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ONE TRUE CROSS OF THE CRUCIFIXION, AS WELL AS THE NAILS USED TO AFFIX CHRIST TO THE CROSS. SHE HAD ONE NAIL PLACED IN CONSTANTINE’S HELMET, AND THE OTHER IN THE BRIDLE OF HIS HORSE.
FAMED FOR HER PIETY, SHE IS CONSIDERED A SAINT BY THE CATHOLIC, ORTHODOX, ANGLICAN, AND LUTHERAN CHURCHES, AS IS HER SON CONSTANTINE. SHE IS OFTEN KNOWN AS ST. HELEN OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
HELENA DIED AROUND THE YEAR 330, WITH HER SON AT HER SIDE.
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