Obverse: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; Laureate
Bust of Constantine II Facing Right
Reverse: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM; Wreath
Encircling the Text, VOT X, Sunrise Below
Constantine II was born in 316 A.D., the eldest
son of Constantine the Great and his second
wife, Fausta. When the empire was divided upon
the death of his father in A. D. 337 between him
and his brothers Constantius II, Constans I, he
inherited Gaul and most of Western Europe.
Together with his brothers, Constantine II
systematically murdered any of his relatives that
he considered a threat to his throne. They left
their young cousin Julian alive, however, and
Julian ultimately did lead a successful revolt and
become emperor. Part of the arrangements made
between the three brothers included Constantine
II acting as regent for Constans, who was
considered somewhat young to rule in his own
right. In 340, Constantine II and Constans got
into an argument over the administration of Italy.
Constantine II gathered an army to go chastise
his brother, but was soundly defeated in the
battle that took place near the city of Aquileia, in
the North of Italy close to the western slopes of
the Julian Alps. Constantine II was killed in the
battle after bitter fighting.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether contemporary currencies or
artifacts of a long forgotten empire. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. This ancient coin is a memorial
to the Emperor Constantine II, passed from the
hands of civilization to civilization, from
generation to generation that still appears as
vibrant today as the day it was struck.
- (C.7600)
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