Constantinian

This page has coins of AD 306-364, coins of
Constantine and his relatives, and Vetranio, Magnentius, Decentius, and Jovian,
and also ancient imitations of coins of the era.

TERMS: Prices are in brackets: [$xx]. I accept PayPal and Zelle (which I prefer in the US--here is why) and checks and cash. Postage in the US is $2 for orders up to $25, $3 for orders up to $50, $4 for orders up to $100, and an additional $2 for each hundred thereafter. Usually I do not ship to other countries, but see my more-detailed terms of sale here.
After I confirm by e-mail that I still have the coin, you can pay by logging into your account and sending Zelle (preferred) or PayPal (add 4%) payment to my e-mail address. I also accept checks.
To order, or to ask any questions, e-mail me, Warren, at: e-mail

Purple marks items that have sold and are no longer available.

What's new? 2025, Sept. 30: Many moved to chronological order by emperor. Some prices revised.
2025, June 27: Constans II galley. Constantine.

Note: Constantinian imitations are at the bottom of this page.

Skip past the newest and jump down to Constantinian by emperor in chronological order.

Newest:

Constans, 324-337-350
AE4. 15 mm. 1.62 grams.
VICT AVG, Victory left holding wreath
AMANΘ
Struck 347-8 at Antioch, just before the coin reform of 348.
RIC VIII Antioch 66 "scarce."
[$22]
As always, please compare with prices on your (other) favorite site.

Crispus, 317-326
CRISPVS NOB CAES
PRINCIPIA IVVENTNTIS
AQT Aquileia mint
20 mm. A little larger than most.
RIC VII Aquileia 9, page 393.
[$22] (by itself, only $2 shipping)

Hanniballianus
335-337. 16.5 mm. A small coin, but full flan--better flan than almost all of the type.
Very nicely repatinted.

He was chosen by Constantine to become ruler of the part of Mesopotamia that Constantine expected to conquer in his (aborted by Constantine's death in 337) campaign prepared in 335. Note the title "REGI"-- the only use of "King" on a Roman imperial coin. The river god on the reverse refers to the Euphrates which would have been the route of invasion. Hanniballianus was killed in the purge by Constantius II and his brothers in 337 in the "Summer of Blood" after Constantine's death.
The importance of this particular example is that it is legible--all of it.
FL (Flavius) HANNIBALLIANO REGI
SECVRITAS PUBLICA
CONSS (Constantinople) RIC VII Constantinople 147 "r2" (very rare) but many have been found since then.
Compare to this recent CNG coin:
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-GYPG2S/hanniballianus-rex-regum-ad-335-337-follis-145mm-141-g-6h-constantinople-mint-6th-officina-struck-ad-336-337-vf at $250+20% = $300. I much prefer this one. [$185 (+ $6 shipping)] The CNG coin is crowded at 14.5 mm, where this one is 16.5 mm max.

Constantine, 307-337
19.5 mm. 3.14 grams.
PROVIDENTIAE AVGG
SMANTΓ (Antioch mint, officina gamma)
[$15] Legend fully on the flan. CONSTANTINVS AVG

CONSTANTINOPOLI
19.3-17.7 mm. 2.17 grams.
330-337
Constantinople mint
Commemorative of the founding of Constantinople, which was made possible by a naval victory.
This type is very common, but not with visible oars on the prow. Often the prow is just a projection and barely identifiable as a ship part. This one has Victory's foot on a very clear galley with visble oars.
[$18]

Constans, Augustus 337-350
19 mm. 2.55 grams. (The small version of the "galley" type)
DN CONSTANS PF AVG
Post-reform "galley"
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
ЄSIS
Siscia mint.
Very dark glossy patina.
Emperor on galley holds phoenix and standard with chi-rho. Galley steered by Victory.
[$23]

Constantine, 307-337
19mm 3.34g. Repatinated.
CONSTANTINVS AVG
DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG
SMHB
VOT XX *
High grade--look at his hair!
[$22]

Constantius II
14.6 mm. 1.55 grams
VOT
XX
MVLT
XXX
SMALA
Very clear. Look at the legend, hair, diadem, centering. Excellent! [$19]

If you want to know about early Christian symbolism on ancient coins, there are good websites, my own among them:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html
and Victor Clark has another:
http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/symbols/

Constantine, 307-337
16 mm. 1.83 grams. "half follis" Repatinated.
Struck late 312-early 313
PACI PERPET
Pax standing holding branch and standard
RP in exergue
XII in field left RIC VI Rome 356. Only at Rome, page 391.
[$79, reduced to $69]
Rare. Please compare to prices elsewhere. (You can pay $400 for one, not better, on vcoins)

Constantine, 307-337
20 mm. 3.33 grams.
CONSTANTINVS AVG
PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate
SMKB •
[$18] Nice flan. Perfect centering.
Sacra Moneta Cyzicus (officina) B

Constantine, 307-337
20 mm.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
T F
PLG
Lugdunum mints
I like the black patina and tan cover.
[$14]

Constantine
17 mm.
"Two Victories"
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP
VOT PR
S T for Ticinum
[$12, reduced to $10]

Constantine, 307-337
20 mm. 3.17 grams.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
R*T
Rome mint
[$8]

Constantine, 307-337
22.5-21.3 mm. (Larger than most) 2.72 grams. Repatinated.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
S F
PLG
Lugdunum mint. Common.
[$18]

Constantine, 306-307-337.
Rare 17-15 mm fraction. 2.14 grams. Small.
Rare denomination!
Struck as Caesar Summer 307.
For some unclear reason Trier struck low-denomination coins hardly struck elsewhere.
FL VAL CONSTANTINVS N C
VO/TIS/X
Zschucke 7.13b, plate p. 48.
RIC VI Trier 750 "R" page 214.
Failmezger 218 "R"
ex Gert Boersema on vcoins, April 7, 2008, at $243.
Not your usual Constantine, on the contray, this is a rare, smaller, denomination [$275, reduced to $259]

Constantine, 307-337
20-19 mm. 2.64 grams.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
with captive left (a very common basic type, but with an unusual variety)
RIC Rome 52, "316-317"
On vcoins one at $38 and one at $250!
[$29]

Constantine, 307-337
21-20 mm. 2.48 grams
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
[$8]

Ancient imitations from the time of Constantine are on this page near the bottom (I spent years working on my collection of imitations and now I am passing some of them along.)

Constantine
18 mm. 3.15 grams.
Bust in close-fitting helmet with low crest, right.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP
around two Victories holding a shield inscribed VOT/PR over table
BSIS in exergue.
RIC Siscia 53. Struck "318-9" [$39]
ex Leu web-auction 18, lot 3370, with their ticket

Constantine the Great, 307-337
19 mm.
CONSTANTINVS AVG. laureate bust of Constantinus left.
Rev: SOL INVICTO COMITI. Sol standing left holding globe.
Nice detailed portrait. [$17, reduced to $15]

Constantine, 307-337
18 mm.
VOT XX
MVLT
XXX
TSA
Thessalonica mint (type from this mint only) [$25, reduced to $19]

Constantine 307-337
22-19 mm. Rare. Small.
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
(A type revived after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, late 312-313)
This reverse is very common on earlier folles of Diocletian and his colleagues, however, it is not common under Constantine. Note that this one is distinctly smaller than the earlier folles with this reverse.
RIC Ticinum 117, page 297, plate 4. Scarce
I like the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI varieties and this one is remarkably late. Ticinum and Rome were the only mints to issue GPR after the Battle and before the death of Maximinus II in 313. The mints that had already been under Constantine had already moved on to using the shorter GENIO POP ROM legend. This mint had been under Maxentius.
[$85] I am a big fan of GENIO POPVLI ROMANI coins. This type, so late, is hard to find.

Delmativs, Caesar 335-337
This coin struck 18 Sept. - end of 335
with two standards
between two soldiers (One standard took over in 336 and was smaller)
18 mm. 2.42 grams.
Large for a Delmatius. (They are usually with one standard which is smaller.)
FL DELMATIVS NOB C
GLORIA EXERCITVS (Glory of the army)
•ASIS• for Siscia
RIC Siscia 239 (was R5 long ago but more have appeared since then)
Sear IV 16878 no photo.

[$65] Nice grade. Well-centered. Full flan. Compare with vcoins prices for other two-standard examples. (None are under $100 as I write, and they are not better.)
ex Andy Burnett at the Cumberland Coin Fair, London, March 2, 1996. Ex Esty collection.

IOVI CONSERVATORI
XIIΓ for 12 1/2 (the denomination)
He looks like a boy, which he was.

[$23, reduced to $19]

Constans, 333-337-350
15.7-15.2 mm. 1.58 grams.
Struck as Augustus pre-reform 347-8
VOT XX MVLT XXX
SMALB
RIC VIII Alexandria 34, page 541.
Very nice for type [$17]

Constans, son of Constantine.
19-17 mm. 1.77 grams. Slightly larger than many GE coins.
CONSTANS NOB CAES
GLORIA EXERCITVS with two standards. (Most of his have only one standard because he didn't become Caesar until 333 and the very common type soon switched from two standards to one.
SMTSΔ
RIC Thessalonica 225 "336-7"
Lovely earthen cover. [$18]

Constantius II
22.4-21.8 mm. 3.95 grams. Repatinated
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
Solder spearing fallen horseman,
"reaching back"
Γ
ANΔ
[$21]

Constantius II, 324-337-361
16 mm. 1.64 grams. Small.
Struck before 348
VICT AVG
SMANA
RIC VIII Antioch 65 "S" only this one issue, so scarcer than that suggests.
(There are two on vcoins, both much worse, at $35 and 21 €)
Look at the pearl-diadem detail!
[$23]

Constantius II as Caesar
18 mm. 3.03 grams. Repatinated.
camp gate
PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS
SMNS for Nicomedia.
Bust left.
[$18]

Constantius II
23 mm. 4.36 grams. Repatinated
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
Solder spearing fallen horseman,
"reaching back"
Γ
ANΔ Antioch
[$21]

Full-sized ancient imitaion.

Constantius II
23 mm. 6.16 grams (heavier than the originals!)
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
galley
TRS, Trier mint.
Found in England.
Very unusual to find a full-sized imitation.
Bought at Baldwin's in London in 2002.
Full-size FEL TEMP REPARATIO imitations are rare.
[$85]

Constantius II, 337-361
19.4 mm.
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
Emperor and two captives
ALEΓ for Alexandria
[$19]

Constantius II
as Caesar, 330-335
17 mm.
GLORIA EXERCITVS
SMANT for Antioch
[$9]

Constantius II
17 mm.
Struck 330-335
GLORIA EXERCITVS
SMANS for Antioch.
[$8]

Constantius II
16 mm. Small
VOT XX MVLT XXX
SM ALE for Alexandria
Lovely color. Look at the ear and hair. A beautiful small coin.
[$19]

Constantius II, 324-337-361
15 mm. 1.88 grams. Small coin.
Struck 347-348
at Antioch
VOT XX MVLT XXX
SMANΓI
RIC Antioch 113, page 521
Excellent detail, diadem, hair, wreath, reverse legend, and wonderful "Antioch" black and tan patina. [$29] I doubt you can find a better one. If you want the type, pick this one.

[$23, reduced to $17. A nice example.]
Constantius II, 324-337-361.
16-15 mm.
"M" on standard. An unusual variety for having the M.
GLORIA EXERCITVS, Trier mint.
RIC Trier 108. ex Baldwin's in London, 1988.

Magnentius, 350-353
Large ancient imitation
21 mm. 3.78 grams.
VOT V MVLT X on shiled held by two Victories
VICTORIA DD NN AVG ET CAE intended around
Prototype possibly RIC Lyon 122, page 186
Legend nicely garbled, but close. Good portrait.
Bastien notes a good fraction of Magnentius coins are actually imitations.
ex Baldwin's in London, May 17, 1988. [$37]

A curiosity! 12 x 9 mm piece cut out of a Magnentius chi-rho type. All that remains is the end of the X.
Bought as part of a large group of ancient imitations (although this is not an imitation, rather a piece cut down) from Italo Vecchi Jan. 29, 1996 in London.
0.71 grams. In the 5th century when AE4's were the only size AE, larger coins from earlier were cut down to match the weights of the current coins. Go to local coin shows in England and you will see very many small imitations and cut-down pieces about this size. I picked through bags and found some interesting pieces. [$15. You would need to look at thousands of coins, as I did, to find a cut-down chi-rho of Magnentius like this.]

[$55] Magnentius, 350-353
22-21 mm.
VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE
Two victories with shied inscribed
VOT V MVLT X
SV below, RPLG in exergue.
RIC Lyons = Lugdunum 130 page 187.
Failmezger 440.
Not quite as green as the picture, and the green is stable and has been since I bought it in 1994. A very attractive example.

Constantius Gallus, 351-353
23.0-21.7 mm. 4.75 grams. Repatinated. The larger size.
Soldier spearing fallen horseman
ALEB
Alexandria mint. RIC Alexandria 74 "15 March 351 - Winter 354
[$10]

Constantius Gallus, 351-354
19 mm. 2.21 grams. The smaller size. Not the largest size.

Soldier-spearing-fallen-horseman
RIC VIII Nicomedia 97

Lovely even green patina. [$19]

Jovian (AD 363-364)

Jovian, 363-364
VOT V in wreath
Bust left
Nice surfaces
mintmark CONSP (Constantinople)
[$23, reduced to $21]

Imitations.

I spent three long spells in England when I was able to go to many coin shows ("Fairs") and select the best of local finds. Thousands of tiny, illegible, and corroded imitations ancient imitations have been found in England. Spend enough hours pouring over bags of mostly terrible coins and you might find a few of interest. I did!

Full-sized ancient imitation.
Constantius II
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
galley
23 mm. 6.16 grams (Heavier than the official originals!)
TRS for Trier.

Found in England.
Bought at Baldwin's in London in 2002.
Full-size FEL TEMP REPARAYIO imitations are rare.
[$85]

Constans, ancient imitaion with English green patina.
13-12 mm. 1.16 grams. Small.
Bought in 1996 in Cambridge, England.
VICTORIAE DD AVGG Q NN prototype.
Imitations of this type are very rare.

VRBS ROMA
Small. 13 mm. 1.04 grams.
Ex Dan Clark Ancient Coins, Sept. 11, 1987.
Nicely centered
PLC for Lugdunum
[$12] Interesting for its small size.

Constantine

"Two Victories"
17-16 mm. 2.04 grams.
Helmeted bust left (which is why I bought it)
Weak overall, especially the reverse.
ex Vecchi at his office in London, Jan. 29, 1996. My cost $23. Too much!
Here [$19, reduced to $15]

Helena?
Victory as on CONSTANTINOPOLIS
Really tiny! 9 mm. 0.71 grams.
Bought at the Midlands Coin Fair, from Andrew Dyke, March 10, 1996.
I have looked through thousands of terrible imitations at English coins shows and selected only a few of the most interesting. Not many collectors cared or had a patience to spend hours pouring over junk to find a few legible coins. But, in every thousand, there would be something interesting but easy to overlook.
Extremely rare to find an imitation like this with any female opposite Victory.
Not very nice in condition and awfully tiny, but highly remarkable combination.
I bet you will never see another one much like it. [$29]

Constantine
Helmeted bust right
type of VIRTVS EXERCITI
two capitives, banner with VOT/XX
but legend very garbled
SIS for Siscia
Bought Jan. 29, 1996 at Vecchi's in London for $33.
It seemed expensive at the time, but I pay attention and this type is rarely imitated (if this is not the only one).
[$45]

Crispus?
18 mm. 2.31 grams.
Type of
VOT
XX
in wreatth with DOMINORVM ... around
Mintmark blundered.
Ex. Harlan Berk, Philadelphia ANA, August 9, 2000, at $25. He said, "possibly from Slovakia"
Nice bold nonsense lettering. Not quite as glossy as the photo makes it (too bright light) [$45.reduced to $39]

Ancient imitation (probably from the Danube region)
18 mm.
"Two Victories" reverse of Constantine
Bust left (which is unusual in this series)
[$12, reduced to $9]
ex Vecchi in London, 1996. (no ticket)

Constans. Full-size ancient imitation. AE23-20. 4.95 grams.
DN CONSTA-NS PF AVG, legible letters on obverse
/illegible letter-like forms, possibly resembling "AQP" in exergue (for Aquileia mint)
Sear 3973 prototype. RIC Aquileia 99. "348- 19 Jan. 350". Page 323. Lovely hard green patina. Seldom offered.
[$85, reduced to $75] Have you seen any full-sized FTR imitations before?

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