The Founding of Constantinople and its Commemorative Coins
Contents: The two main types (at the top)
Other early types to 340
Later types 347-348
Varieties of the main types
Imitations
Roman coins commemorate the founding of Constantinople which was one of the most important events in the history of the Roman Empire.
CONSTANTINOPOLIS
Helmeted bust left, laureate, of Constantinople, holding scepter in left
Victory left, wings half spread, right foot on prow, holding scepter in right and resting left on shield.
Palm branch in field left.
TRS in exergue, for the Trier mint, second officina.
18 mm.
RIC Trier 563. Struck AD 333-34.
Failmezger 363 (this type, earlier and larger) and 369 and 377 (later and a bit smaller).
VRBS ROMA
Helmeted bust of Roma, left
The wolf and twins (Romulus and Remus) of the foundation legend of Rome.
Two stars above.
ΓSIS for the Siscia mint, third officina.
19 mm. 2.87 grams.
RIC VII Siscia 222, struck 330-333.
Failmezger 364 (this type, earlier and larger) and 370 and 378 (later and a bit smaller).
Rome was also commemorated (at Constantinople only) in an issue of 330 on two smaller anonymous types with obverse POP ROMANVS.
POP ROMANVS
Laureate head of Roma left, cornucopia over left shoulder.
Eight-pointed star in wreath
CONSΘ
14 mm.
RIC Constantinople 22 "Special issue for the dedication of the city."
Failmezger 367
Struck 330.
The two main types were issued alongside the extremely common "GLORIA EXERCITVS" two soldiers and two standards type from 330 to 335, after which time the coins retained the same legend and general appearance, but became smaller and were issued with only one standard--clearly noting a decrease in value.
Constans, struck 337-340 as Augustus.
GLORIA EXERCITVS
Two soldiers, each holding spear in outer hand, with one standard between them, resting inner hands on shields.
This particular example has the Christian symbol chi-rho on the standard (which is common from this mint, Siscia).
ESIS•
16 mm. 1.76 grams
RIC VIII Siscia 100.
This type is one of the most common Roman types of all. It was issued at all mints in vast numbers at the same time as the two main commemorative types. It is no surprise that occasionally commemorative obverses were combined with GLORIA EXERCITVS reverses. Whether that was intentional or accidental has been a matter of debate. When the mints began to issue this legend with the one-standard reverse the size of the coins decreased slightly and the quality decreased significantly and this was also the case for the two main types which continued to be issued, however with no distinguishing type change. Given the vast volume of coinage spewing from the mints, it could be argued that these combinations of commemorative obverses with non-commemorative reverses are simply the result of sides occasionally being paired incorrectly--mint mistakes called "mules." However, other possible mules do not seem to occur. The commemorative reverses are not (never?) paired with obverses naming the emperors, which GLORIA EXERCITVS coins have. City commemoratives with the two-standard reverse are unlisted (but might occur as ancient imitations). Coins with the one-standard reverse (next) are scarce, but not rare. So, these are probably not mistakes--just scarcer official types.
CONSTANTINOPOLI (no terminal "S")
Helmeted bust, laureate, of Constantinople left, holding scepter in left
GLORIA EXERCITVS
Two soldiers, each holding spear in outer hand, with one standard between them, resting inner hands on shields.
CONSZ, for the Constantinople mint, seventh officina
17-16 mm. 1.35 grams.
RIC VII Constantinople 144, struck 336-337. See also RIC VIII Constantinople 47, struck 337-340,
which is usually a bit smaller.
Failmezger 382
Note for collectors: These are much less common than the main types, but command only a small premium anyway. However, because the quality of flan and strike is lower in the one-standard era, these are much harder to find in near-perfect condition than the two main types.
A mule. The most interesting mule is of one commemorative's obverse with the other's reverse.
This is a mule. Here the CONSTANTINOPOLIS obverse is combined with the wolf-and-twins reverse proper to the VRBS ROMA obverse.
14 mm. 1.70 grams.
This particular coin was published in SAN XI.2 (1980) page 37 as potentially official. Subsequently an expert on the issue, Pierre Bastien, saw it and told me he thought it was an imitation. It has good style and lettering, but he assured me this is not the official style of Lugdunum, in spite of the clear PLG mintmark of Lugdunum (see RIC page 140). Then this piece was cited in A Survey of Numismatic Research, 1978-1984, page 288. The existence of official mules of this period was the subject of several articles in SAN (VI,1 (1974), pages 8 and 15; VI.3 (1975) page 42; X.2 (1979) pages 20-21; X.4 (9179) page 60). After 30 years studying the matter, I think no mules of these types were intentionally issued, but I do not rule out a simple mint error in some cases.
Lugdunum issues are sometimes smaller in diameter than issues from other mints. Another 14 mm example (the same size as this one) that looks official is illustrated below. However, other coins with this obverse and reverse combination are clearly ancient imitations (See below under "Imitations").
The usual CONSTANTINOPOLIS reverse has no legend. There is a very rare type of 337-340 explicitly labeling Victory.
CONSTANTINOPOLIS
Helmeted bust, laureate, of Constantinople left, holding scepter in left
VICTORIA AVG
Victory left, holding wreath
[R]E in exergue [The "R" is not clear]
17 mm. 2.11 grams.
RIC VIIII Rome 20, 31, 42 officina E only. Struck 337-340.
Failmezger 387 this coin.
[The reverse of this example is not well-struck]
Later types
The commemorative types continue to be issued in high volume until the death of Constantine II in 340. John Kent, in RIC VIII on the family of Constantine, writes that the vast output until 340 was followed by very few, or even no, copper coins issued for six years, with small issues resuming in 347-348 followed by the massive issue of the "FEL TEMP REPARATIO" reform of 348.
CONSTANTINOPOLI (no terminal "S")
Helmeted bust, laureate, of Constantinople left, holding scepter in left
VOT/XX/MVLT/XXX in wreath
SMNΓ
15 mm.
RIC Nicomedia -- but see Cyzicus 53.
Failmezger 402
Struck 347-348.
VRBS ROMA
Helmeted bust of Roma, left
VOT/XX/MVLT/XXX in wreath
SMHB Heraclea mint
16-15 mm. 2.12 grams.
RIC VIII Heraclea 49.
Failmezger 402
Struck 347-348.
[Note: These are very rarely in nice condition.]
Rome and Constantinople come paired on a very rare commemorative issue of 347-348 with "P" and "R" (POP ROMANVS) on either side of a standing figure.
CONSTANTINOPOLIS
Female bust right.
P R either side of Pax standing left holding branch in right and long scepter in left.
No mintmark.
16 mm.
RIC VIII Rome 106. This type is only from Rome with only two varieties, head laureate and head pearl-diademed.
Both are listed as "R4", which is extremely rare (2-3 known in 1981).
Failmezger 402
Varieties of the main types.
The two main types occur with various marks in the field, few of which have any historical meaning that warrants special attention. The most interesting variant has a chi-rho as an early Christian symbol. The chi-rho occurs only at Constantina (= Arelate = Arles).
CONSTANTINOPOLIS
The usual type but for a chi-rho in the reverse left field.
PCONST, for the mint Constantina, which was Arelate (Arles) under a new name.
16-15 mm. 1.37 grams.
RIC Arles 386, 401
Struck c.334-336
VRBS ROMA
The usual type but for the chi-rho Christian symbol between the two stars on the reverse.
PCONST, for the mint Constantina, which was Arelate (Arles) under a new name.
17 mm. 1.74 grams.
RIC Arles 385, 400
[This piece is from the Bicester (Oxon) hoard.]
Note for collectors: The above two coins show a variant obverse legend, a clearer galley, and unusual reverse letters. A specialist will care and pay more for them, but not much more.
An unusually small example of the the usual type (Spelled ending in "I")
Full flan, but only 15 mm and 1.66 grams.
PLG for Lugdunum (= Lyons)
RIC VII Lyons 246 footnote..
This obverse legend variety is not supposed to appear at western mints (RIC VII page 138) , but this coin shows it does.
In hand it is immediately obvious that this coin is smaller in diameter than usual.
(If this is an imitation, it is superbly executed.)
Imitations
These types were very commonly imitated in Britain. I have personally seen, at Oxford, a scholarly collection of over 400 VRBS ROMA ancient imitations that was being classified to find die links between examples found in various locations. Imitations range from rare full-size imitations to extremely common small imitations, some of which are tiny.
Imitation CONSTANTINOPOLIS coins:
AE17-16. 6:00. 1.87 grams.
An imitation in excellent style and virtually full size.
CONSTANT-INPOLIS [sic, letter "O" missing]
ΓSIS in exergue. [RIC lists only B and D
RIC Siscia 224 variety.
Imitation VRBS ROMA coins:
VRBS ROMA
15 mm. 6:00.
Good style, even green patina, crude lettering.
Stars of crosses with dots in the quarters
In exergue: PT •
From Baldwin's, 1988.
Note for Collectors: At any English coin show, even small local shows, you are likely to find very many of these (maybe hundreds), most in lesser condition than these illustrated here. I do not know about continental shows. Most are close to worthless and only the very best sell well, and those for about as much as a comparable original.
Imitations that are mules:
CONSTANTINOPOLIS/wolf and twins right (It should be left)
AE12. 5:30.
CON..../wolf and twins, mintmark not legible.
An obvious imitation.
Bought near Birmingham, 1996.
Common Coins
Even very common coins are interesting. The fact they were common proves they were important--and therefore historically significant--in a way that rarities are not. When Michael Grant was president of the Royal Numismatic Society he devoted a presidential lecture to "Very Common Coins" and their relevance for understanding propaganda and the pattern of Roman coinage. The foundation of Constantinople had an immense influence on the ancient and medieval world. There are few types more historical than CONSTANTINOPOLIS. Imagine what such an important type would be worth if it were combined with great rarity! Rejoice that, instead, it is one of the most common ancient coins of all.
References:
Alfordi, A. "On the foundation of Constantinople: A few notes." JRS 37 (1947) pages 10-16 and plates I-IV [including over 40 medallions]
RIC VII, Roman Imperial Coinage, volume 7 (to 337, the death of Constantine)
RIC VIII, Roman Imperial Coinage, volume 8 (after 337, the death of Constantine).
Failmezger, Roman Bronze Coins from Paganism to Christianity, 294-364 AD. [Very well illustrated. Organized chronologically by type, not by mint.]
Grant, Michael. "Very Common Coins," Numismatic Chronicle 1955, pages iii-xii. [Makes the argument that many eastern coin types are far more common than known to western scholars (in 1955) and common types are important for understanding the monetary system and intentions of the government in a way that rarities are not.]
Kent, John. "Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis medallions at the mint of Rome" in Scripta Nummaria Romana: Essays Presented to Humphrey Sutherland, 1978, pages 105-113 and plates 12-13. [There are very rare medallions that are far larger with more detailed types than the AE3s discussed on this site.]
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