Christian Symbols on Roman coins:
An overview and a comprehensive list of copper coins to AD 364.

The first indications of Christianity on Roman coins occur under emperor Constantine who ruled 307-337 AD. Only a few years before his reign the emperors were still supporting the old gods and severely persecuting Christians, but Constantine advocated for the Christian God and became very involved in church matters. By the end of his reign in 337 it was the religion favored by the state. On coins minted under Constantine there are only some veiled references to Christianity, but soon the frequency of Christian references increased and by 350 Christian references became overt.

This page
1)  first discusses Christian types, then
2)  discusses Christian symbols, which occur on coins before Christian types appear. The early symbols are either a cross or a chi-rho  ( ), and finally
3)  gives an illustrated list  in chronological order, of possible Christian references on Roman AE (copper) coins prior to AD 364 (Valentinian's reign began in 364, after which most Roman coins displayed Christian symbols.)    

   Skip down to the illustrated list of reverse types.

What's new?  2023, August 30: A Constantine with a cross-like symbol. 2022, April 3:  Three types of Magnentius added to Table 6 (6.7, 6.8, and 6.9). 



The first type featuring a Christian symbol, the chi-rho.
An early Christian type on a large (27 mm) copper coin of the
Roman emperor Magnentius (350-353 AD)
with a large chi-rho (chi, X, and rho, P, which are the first letters in, and when crossed like this, an abbreviation for, Christ = CHRistus)
flanked by A, alpha, and ω (the beginning and the end--of the Greek alphabet--another Christian reference).
(This type is discussed in greater detail on this linked page.)

The first Christian type. Unfortunately, the meaning is uncertain.
A small (18 mm) coin of Constantine (emperor, 307-337 AD) with an
enigmatic type of a standard surmounted by a chi-rho ( )
and planted in a serpent with head plunging downward,
with legend SPES PVBLIC ("Hope of the public"),
struck in AD 326 in the first issue from the Constantinople mint
(Discussed in greater detail on this linked page).

The first overtly Christian legend.
A 21 mm coin struck by Vetranio in 350.
A small chi-rho on a standard (a "labarum") held by the emperor who is being crowned by Victory,
with the legend consisting of the famous words reportedly said by God to Constantine in his vision before the decisive battle of the Milvian bridge:
HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS (beginning at 7:00)
("With the sign, you will be victorious").
A 21 mm coin struck by Vetranio in 350.
(Discussed in greater detail on this linked page).


An earlier extremely rare coin of Crispus makes it certain that the Christian "sign" was a chi-rho.

Chi-rho on the shield.
IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES  ("IVL" for "Julius")
Bust of laureate Crispus left, holding spear in his right hand pointing back over his right far shoulder and holding a shield in his left hand. The shield has a bold chi-rho on it.
BEATA TRAN - QUILLITAS around votive altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, with globe on top and *** above.
In exergue: • PTR • , a mintmark of Trier
Struck 322-323 according to RIC.  RIC Trier 372
This coin: 19-17 mm.
[Ex Langtoft hoard, found Sunday, 24 Sept. 2000 at Langtoft, near East Riding, Yorkshire, England.]

A type very similar to that of Magnentius (the first coin on this page) was issued in the name of Constantius II at Trier in the last months of the reign of Magnentius:
 
Constantius II. 337-361
This coin: 23 mm. 6.86 grams.
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
Laureate bust of Constantius II right
 /large chi-rho with small alpha (A) and omega (ω) on either side.
SALVS AVG NOSTRI (instead of SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES)
   TRP * (a mintmark of Trier)
RIC Trier 335. Struck 352 or 353, in the last months of the reign of Magnetius and Decentius.
 

This type is attributed to the "Revolt of Poemenius" at Trier (as described by Ammianus in Lives of the Later Caesars) during the caesarship of Decentius, brother of Magnentius. Magnentius had been a usurper in Gaul while Constantius II was in the east. As Constantius fought his way west, apparently Poemenius declared the support of Trier for Constantius even before Constantius arrived on the scene. He continued the chi-rho type but naturally changed the legend from the one suitable for two rulers (Magnentius and Decentius) to this similar legend appropriate for a single ruler (Constantius II). Whether or not the city was temporarily retaken by Decentius before Constantius arrived is uncertain. This type is issued only at Trier.

Note for collectors: This type is scarce and in significant demand. The flan is regularly too small for the dies, so it is usually crowded (as this one is missing the right side of the obverse legend and the outer edges of some reverse letters). Nevertheless, at any given time there will probably be some on the market.
 

Christian Symbols:  There are only four Christian symbols on Roman coins of the fourth century:  the chi-rho, cross (square or long), cross-rho, and the hand of God (without and with wreath). The chi-rho ( , a.k.a. christogram) is formed from the first two letters of "Christ" in Greek (chi = X and rho = P).  The chi-rho is used far more commonly than the cross or cross-rho, but on one issue they are interchangeable. In AD 348 there was a coin reform in which a new, larger, denomination was introduced with the legend FEL TEMP REPARATIO ("Happy times are here again") and several types, one of which is described as "emperor standing left with standard and two captives." The "standard" has vexillum (a flag) mounted on the standard and adorned in three ways:
a cross:   , a chi-rho: , or a cross-rho: (illustrated below on coins from Antioch, Nicomedia, and Antioch, respectively)




Three coins of Constantius II (Caesar 324-337 and Augustus 337-361) struck c. 348-350. Each is 21 or 20 mm.
Bust of Constantius II left, DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG
pearl-diademed and holding small globe in his right hand.
The reverse (top row) has a mint mark identifying the mint city (Antioch, Nicomedia, and Antioch, respectitvely).

Note for collectors:  This "two-captives" type is very common, easily available, and inexpensive. The chi-rho is the most common of the three symbols, but all are available. Make sure the tiny symbol is clear--sometimes most of the coin is nice but the symbol is not legible. 

The "hand of God":  The "hand of God" is on fewer types, but the coins are common. It first appears after the death of Constantine in 337 on a "deification" issue struck by his sons.

Constantine the Great 
Struck 337-340 just after Constantine's death in 337.
15 mm. 1.76 grams
DV CONSTANTI-NVS PT AVGG
Veiled head of Constantine right
Emperor in biga right being received by the hand of God reaching down from the sky.
The use of a chariot (instead of huge eagle carrying the emperor) with hand of God is new.
SMALΓ (a mintmark of Alexandria, Egypt).

It is not explicit on the coin that this issue is Christian-related. However, we know it is from the ancient Christian author Eusebius, who wrote, "At the same time coins were struck portraying the Blessed One on the obverse in the form of one with head veiled, on the reverse like a charioteer on a quadriga, being taken up by a right hand stretched out to him from above,"  Life of Constantine IV, 73.

"DV" in the obverse legend abbreviates "Divus" and "PT AVGG" abbreviates "Pater Augusti" which translates to "father of the augusti." In previous centuries under the pagan religions some emperors had been "deified" (more or less enrolled among the gods) after their deaths and shown on coins riding an eagle up into the sky. Although the concept was not really Christian, it is alluded to on this common issue of Constantine.
 
A note for collectors: This small type is common, but often worn, ill-struck, or off-center enough to obscure the hand of God. Generally the type is very inexpensive, but a well-struck full-flan piece with a bold hand of God will cost significantly more.

Much later, after Christianity was well-established, a type of Arcadius has a clear hand of God holding a wreath crowning the emperor:


Arcadius, 383-408
Struck 383 as his first issue
20 mm. 4.52 grams
DN ARCAD-IVS PF AVG, bust right holding spear forward and left holding shield
Hand of God above crowning him with a wreath
GLORIA RO-MANORVM
Emperor standing front, facing left, holding standard and resting left of shield, at feet left a captive
mintmark: CONΓ *
RIC Constantinople 53a


Only the eastern emperor Arcadius and his wife Eudoxia have coins with a hand of God like this, and only in the time period 383-388. Additional examples can be found in Table 7.

Note for collectors:  The "hand of God" obverse is very unusual on Roman coins, but this type is nevertheless readily available and apparently not much sought after. Inexpensive examples can be found. Many are "VF" but it is very difficult to find one in true EF. Similar appearances of the hand of God are on coins of Eudoxia (wife of Arcadius) struck c. 400.

The emperor with "Eyes to Heaven" does not employ a separate symbol, but the type was interpreted by ancients as Christian.

Constantine, 307-337. Struck 328.
Obverse portrait with head tilted back to raise his "eyes to heaven."
This obverse appears with three distinct reverses.   
Type 1.15 
This coin: 19 mm. 3.16 grams. 6:00.
Reverse: CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE
Victory seated left, captive to left below, trophy in field
Mintmark:  CONS, B in left field
RIC Constantinople 32

The ancient author Eusebius (IV.15) wrote, "How deeply his soul was impressed by the power of divine faith may be understood from the circumstance that he directed his likeness to be stamped on the golden coin of the empire with eyes uplifted as in the posture of prayer to God: and this money became current throughout the Roman world."  

The list of types with symbols that are possibly Christian

Collectors like to list all the coin types pertaining to a theme and collect every type. Only reverses are illustrated on this page, but these coins are fully illustrated and there are additional illustrations of similar coins and more discussion of the types on pages linked to the tables and to the images. Click on the image to see both sides of the coin and commentary. Other coins with these symbols, but not in these early series, are discussed in Table 0 (with references that are not Christian) and Table 7 (with Christian references after they became common.)  [Not all mints and RIC numbers are given. Some missing ones will be filled in over time.]

    Table 1:  to 337: Before the death of Constantine in 337
    Table 2:  337-340: After the death of Constantine and before the death of Constantine II
    Table 3:  340-348: After the death of Constantine II in 340 and before the coinage reform on 348 that introduced the FEL TEMP REPARATIO types
    Table 4:  348-364: Coins of the FEL TEMP REPARATIO coinage reform of 348.
    Table 5:  350: Coins issued by Vetranio and Constantius II in opposition to the reign of Magnentius and Decentius
    Table 6:  350-353: Coins issued by Magnentius and Decentius.
    Other, later, coins on a linked page, Table 7. Table 0, earlier coins that are not Christian related, but which are sometimes mentioned in this context.

Table 1:  Period of Constantine, to his death in to 337.

#	symbol size	rulers	image (Click on the image to see the both sides, more examples, and discussion)	type	mints	RIC #	RIC date
1.1	cross	Constantine Licinius		SOLI INVICTO COMITI Sol standing left naked but for chalmys, right hand raised and left holding globe cross in left field, star in field right	Ticinum only	43-45 46 for Licinius (r4)	316
1.2	cross	Constantine		MARTI CONSERVATORI Mars standing right, holding reversed spear and resting left on shield * in field left,  cross in right field	Ticinum only	47	316
1.3	cross	Constantine		VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP Two victories facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT PR on column between them Obverse: close-fitting helmet with crest and cross in front and back divisions (The cross is not neatly done [unlike 1.1]. It is not convincingly Christian)	Siscia (this coin) xx	82 (this coin)	319
1.4	chi-rho	Constantine		VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP Two victories facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT PR on column between them Obverse: close-fitting helmet with chi-rho in central division [This is almost the same type as Type 1.3 above, only with a different helmet decoration.]	Siscia	61 (officina B only)
1.5	cross	Constantine		VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP Two victories facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT PR on column between them cross on the column	Ticinum London Lyons xx	86 168 75	318-9
1.6	I X monogram (chi-rho)	Constantine Crispus Constantine II		VIRTVS EXERCIT VOT XX on standard between two seated captives facing outward I X monogram (or a six-pointed star) in field left (often called a chi-rho by dealers to boost the desirability of the type. There is sometimes a bump at the top (as in the illustration), which may be just a terminal dot to guide the engraving of the I, or may be a subtle indication of the turned bump of a rho.)	several mints including Ticinum, Aquileia, and Thessalonica	82
1.7	chi-rho	Constantine		SPES PVBLIC across field, A in left field, standard planted in snake/serpent with head curved down, three dots on vexillum, chi-rho above CONS below This and the following coins certainly reference Christianity.	Constantinople only	19 only (r4)	327
1.8	chi-rho	Crispus		BEATA TRANQVILLITAS, globe on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, three stars above Bust of Crispus left holding spear over shoulder and shield, with bold chi-rho on the shield [This remarkable shield is known only for Crispus, not for Constantine]	Trier only	372 (which includes many varieties without the ci-rho)	322-3
1.9	chi-rho	VRBS ROMA		Obverse: VRBS ROMA, Roma helmeted and wearing imperial mantle left No legend: wolf and twins, two stars above with chi-rho between	Constantina = Arles only	385, 400	334-6
1.10	chi-rho	CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS		Obverse: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Constantinopolis helmeted left No legend: Victory advancing left, wings spread, with scepter and left on shield on ground behind, right foot on prow, chi-rho in field left	Constantina = Arles only	386, 401	334-6
1.11	chi-rho	Constantine Constantine II Constantius II Constans		GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers and two standards, chi-rho high between standards	Constantina = Arles only	381 382 383 384 (all r4 or rarer)	334
1.12	cross long	Constantine Constantine II Constantius II Constans		GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers and two standards, long cross low between standards	Aquileia only	124 125 126 127 (all r3 or rarer)	334- Sept 335
1.13	chi-rho	Constantine Constantine II Constantius II Constans Delmatius		GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers and one standard with chi-rho [This is similar to the first type (2.1) in the next table which was issued in a distinct time period and at a different mint. For proof that this one is earlier and the other later, see the discussion.]	Constantina = Arles and Lyon	394 395 396 397 398-9 (all r3 or rarer)	336
1.14	cross of St. Andrew(?)	Constantine Constantine II Constantius II Constans Delmatius		GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers and one standard with cross of St. Andrew:  X (This could be a Greek chi instead, or both.)	Constantina = Arles only	402 403 404 405 406 (all r4 or rarer)	336-7
1.15	Eyes to Heaven (no actual symbol)	Constantine		CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG diademend head right tilted back raising "eyes to heaven" with reverses: 1) CONSTANTINIA DAFNE (at Constantinople only) 2) VOT / XXX   (Heraclea only) 3) PROVIDENTIAE AVGG  (Cyzicus only)

Table 2:  AD 337-340, that is, after the death of Constantine and before the death of Constantine II.

#	symbol size	rulers	image	type	mint	RIC #	RIC date
2.1	chi-rho	Constantine II Constans Constantius II		AE4: GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers and one standard with chi-rho ASIS (commonly) or PLG (rarely) in exergue [The Siscia mint did not mint this type for Constantine I. Unfortunately, Constantine II as Augustus used the same obverse legend as Constantine I, and sometimes almost the same portrait, so Siscia mintmarked chi-rho coins are often incorrectly attributed to Constantine the Great. See the discussion for the proof.] [This is similar to Type 1.12, but issued in a distinct time period and at different mints.]	Siscia Lugdunum (Lyons) Aquileia	100 91 8 (Cs2)	337-340
2.2	cross	Constantius II Constans		AE4: GLORIA EXERCITVS, two soldiers and one standard with cross TRP in exergue	Trier	39-40 41	337-340
2.3	cross	Theodora		AE4: PIETAS ROMANA, Pietas standing left holding child in arms cross in left field [Most coins of this type do not have a cross.]	Trier	43	337-340 Callu says 335
2.4	cross	Helena		AE4:  PAX PVBLICA, Pax standing left holding branch and transverse scepter cross in field left [Most coins of this type do not have a cross.]	Trier	42	337-340
2.5	Hand of God	Divus Constantine		AE4:  Constantine in quadriga galloping right, star near forehead, arm and hand extended outward toward Hand of God above. (Discussed above)	many		337-340

Table 3:  AD 340-348, after the death of Constantine II in 340 and before the coinage reform on 348 that introduced the FEL TEMP REPARATIO types

#	symbol size	rulers	image	type	mint	RIC #	RIC date
3.1	chi-rho	Constans Constantius II		VICTORIA AVGG, Victory advancing left, head left, holding wreath and palm chi-rho in field left	Siscia	177 176	340-8 maybe just 347
3.2	chi-rho	Constans Constantius II		VICTORIA AVGG, Victory walking left, head right, holding wreath in each hand chi-rho in field right	Siscia	181 180	347

Table 4: AD 348-364, coins of the "FEL TEMP REPARATIO" coinage reform of 348 and before the reign of Valentianian (excluding those related to the reign of Magnentius which are in the next table). 

#	symbol size	rulers	image	type	mint	RIC #	RIC date
4.1	chi-rho or cross-rho or cross	Constantius II Constans		AE2: FEL TEMP REPARATIO "emperor and two captives" [This example has a cross. The linked page has others with a chi-rho or cross-rho.]	many
4.2	chi-rho	Constans Constantius II		AE2:  FEL TEMP REPARATIO ("Happy times are here again") "galley" emperor standing on bow of galley left, holding in right hand Victory on globe crowning him and in left hand a standard with chi-rho. Victory steers the galley with a rudder. (This is symbolically the "ship of state.")	many
4.3	chi-rho	Constans Constantius II		AE3:  FEL TEMP REPARATIO "galley" [This is the same type as above, but of distinctly smaller size. It seems to have been issued simultaneously as a half-denomination. The size is issued by both Constantius II and Constans (whose reign ended in 350), showing it cannot be a later, reduced version of the denomination of 4.2. However, later the type was imitated in Britain in this size and sizes even smaller than this.]	Thessalonica
4.4		Constantius II Constantius Gallus		AE2: FEL TEMP REPARATO Emperor standing left holding Victory and standard with chi-rho one captive at his feet	Thessalonica only	178	early in the period 25 Dec. 350 - Winter 354
4.5	chi-rho	Constantius II Constantius Gallus		AE2:  FEL TEMP REPARATO "Soldier spearing fallen horseman" LXXII in field (for 72 to the pound) and mintmark AQS (P, S or T) chi-rho in the middle	Aquileia only	195- 196	Sept. 352 - Winter 354

Table 5: AD 350, coins issued by Vetranio and Constantius II, and later Gallus (in opposition to the reign of the usurpers Magnentius and Decentius, AD 350-353) 

#	symbol size	rulers	image	type	mint	RIC #	RIC date
5.1	chi-rho	Vetranio Constantius II Gallus		Legend: DN VETRA-NIO PF AVG, A in field left, star in field right    Reverse:  HOC SIG-NO VICTOR ERIS    Victory crowning emperor holding standard with chi-rho, A in field left. (Discussed above)	Siscia for Vetranio and Constantius II. Sirmium for Constantius II and Gallus.	Siscia 275 -292 Sirmium Cs20 G31	19 Jan -25 Dec 350 Sept 351- Winter 354
5.2		Vetranio Constantius II Gallus		CONCORDIA -  MILITVM Emperor standing front, holding in each hand a standard with ch-rho.	Siscia Thessalonica Sirmium
5.3	chi-rho	Vetranio		VIRTVS - EXERCITVM Emperor standing front, holding standard with chi-rho, resting left on shield	Thessalonica	126 -127	19 Jan -25 Dec 350
5.4	ci-rho	Vetranio Constantius II Gallus		AE3:  GLORIA ROMANORVM Emperor standing front, holding standard with chi-rho and reversed spear, leaning left on shield.	Siscia
5.5	chi-rho	Vetranio		AE3:  VIRTVS - EXERCITVM Emperor standing front, holding standard with chi-rho, resting left on shield [This type is the same as the AE2 above, but in a smaller denomination.]	Thessalonica	Thess 138	19 Jan -25 Dec 350
5.6	chi-rho alpha and omega 23 mm	Constantius II "revolt of Pomenius" at Trier		Laureate bust of Constantius II right    /large chi-rho with small alpha (A) and omega (ω) on either side.    SALVS AVG NOSTRI (instead of SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES) This is almost the same type as the large "double maiorina" below (6.5), but adapted from the plural for two emperors (Magnentius and Decentius) to the singular for the sole emperor, Constantius II, as discussed above.	Trier only	Trier 335	struck 352 or 353 in the last months of the reign of Magnenius

Table 6:  AD 350-353. Coins issued by Magnentius and Decentius. 

#	symbols size	rulers	image	type	mint	RIC #	RIC date
6.1	chi-rho 23 mm	Magnentius		FEL TEMP REPARATIO "galley" Emperor in military dress standing left on galley holding Victory on globe and standard with chi-rho Victory wth rudder at stern A in field left This is the only mint and variety [TRP or TRS]	Trier	Trier 260	19 Jan. 350- Spring 351
6.2	chi-rho 22 mm	Magnentius		FELICITAS REIPVBLICE emperor standing left holding Victory on globe and labarum with chi-rho			Jan. 350- Spring 351
6.3	chi-rho or cross rho 22-20 mm	Magnentius Decentius           Variety B: Constantius II Gallus		VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE(S) Two victories holding shield/wreath between them inscribed VOT V MVL X with chi-rho above [some have a cross-rho instead] The Christian symbol is not part of the type; the type is more commonly seen without one.       Variety B:  VICT DD NN AVG ET CAES instead of VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE(S) VOT/XXX instead of VOT/V/MVLT/X	only Rome	251-253
6.4	23-24 mm			GLORIA ROMANORVM Emperor holding Victory on globe crowning him holding labarum with chi-rho in left captives to his left and right A in field right		Aquileia 149	Jan. 350- Sept. 352
6.5	chi-rho 27 mm			SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES large chi-rho with alpha and omega on either side. (Discussed above)		Trier
6.6	chi-rho 17 mm			SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES large chi-rho with alpha and omega on either side. This is the same type as the large "double maiorina" as above, but in a smaller denomination, the "maiorina."	xx
6.7	chi-rho 17 mm	Magnentius		FEL TEMP REPARATIO Emperor holding standard (labarum) with chi-rho. (RIC says cross-rho but their photo, less clear than this one, seems to also show a chi-rho.)	only Lyons	Lyons 108 "R" but I think very rare	Jan. 350 - Spring 351 (i.e. before Decentius)
6.8	chi-rho 25 mm	Magnentius Decentius		VICTORIA AVG ET CAES Emperor standing right with toot on captive, holding standard (labarum) with chi-rho. [The chi rho is barely visible on this example]	Siscia	Siscia 318-319 "R"	Sept. 351
6.9	chi-rho 22 mm	Magnentius     only		VICTORIA AVG LIB ROMANOR Emperor holding standard (labarum) with chi-rho, holding olive branch in left, to right a kneeling and bound captive. (This is the smaller version with this legend. The larger version has an eagle on the banner.) [The chi rho is barely visible on this example]	Rome	Rome 193 "R"	"Before 3 June 350"

Continue with more images, more coins, and more discussion of types from Table 1.

The main types at the top of this page are discussed in greater depth here.

Academic references are listed on a page here.

Go to a page with a few later coins with Christian references.

Go to page with a few earlier "chi-rho" coins that are not Christian references.

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