Early Christian Symbolism on Roman Coins. Go to the main page.
Coins of Table 4 : AD 348-364, coins of the coinage reform of 348 and before the reign of Valentianian, excluding those related to the reign of Magnentius (which are in the next table).
Images size are all proportional to the actual sizes of the coins. Skip down to Type 4.2 (galley), Type 4.3 (galley, half size), Type 4.4 (emperor and one captive)
The FEL TEMP REPARATO reform. Constantine II was killed by the forces of Constans in 340 and after that there was a period in which few copper coins were minted. At one time scholars thought perhaps no copper coins were issued 340-346. Some issued 347-348 are in Table 3. The drought was relieved in 348 by reformed coins of larger size and legend "FEL TEMP REPARATIO" ("Happy times are here again") of several types.
1) "Hut": The "hut" type was minted for Constans with fewer coins of the type minted for Constantius II (and none for Gallus). It has no Christian reference.
2) "Soldier spearing fallen horseman": The extremely common "Soldier spearing fallen horseman" type was minted for Constantius II with far fewer for Constans. It was continued in large size under Gallus, but by the time of Julian II it was much smaller. The type has no Christian reference, but one rare variety (Type 4.5) has a chi-rho in the field.
3) The very rare "horseman right spearing two foes" (struck at Rome for Constantius II, with Constans being extremely rare) has no Christian reference.
4) "Phoenix": The half-denomination (AE3) with large phoenix on globe or pile of rocks has no Christian reference.
---- The next three types all have Christian references ---
5) "Emperor and two captives" is Type 4.1 below.
6) "Galley" is Types 4.2 and 4.3 below.
7) "Emperor and one captive" is Type 4.4 below.
Type 4.1. FEL TEMP REPARATIO "emperor and two captives."
Emperor standing left, holding standard with symbol (cross, chi-rho, or cross-rho), resting left hand on shield behind, two kneeling captives to left
with cross on standard:
Constantius II, struck 348-351
21 mm. 3.78 grams. 5:00
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
Mintmark: ANE, * in field left
cross on standard
RIC Antioch 125
Constantius II, struck c. 349
20 mm. 3.99 rams. 6:00
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
Mintmark: SMKΔ, * in field left
cross on standard
RIC Cyzicus 84
___________
with chi-rho:
Constantius II, struck 348-350
23 mm. 4.17 grams. 12:00
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
Mintmark: • SMKA,
chi-rho on standard
RIC Cyzicus 80
Constantius II, struck 348-350
20 mm. 3.80 grams. 12:00
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
Mintmark: SMNΔ
chi-rho on standard
RIC Nicomedia 67
Constans, 337-350
22-20 mm. 5.18 grams. 12:00.
DN CONSTANS PF AVG
Mintmark: ΔSISM, star in upper left field
chi-rho on standard
RIC VIII Siscia 226
_________
with cross-rho:
Constantius II, struck 348-350
20 mm. 4.10 grams. 5:30
DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG
Mintmark: ANB
cross-rho on standard
RIC Antioch 125
Type 4.2 "galley". AE2.
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
emperor on galley left, holding phoenix or Victory in right and standard with chi-rho in left, victory at rudder
Constantius II, struck 348-350
23 mm. 5.24 grams. 6:00
holding phoenix
Mintmark: TRP
RIC Trier 219
Type 4.3. "galley" AE3. Type as above, but smaller size, regarded as a half-denomination issued simultaneously.
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
emperor on galley left, holding phoenix in right and standard with chi-rho in left, victory at rudder
Constans, struck 348-350
19 mm. 2.35 grams. 6:00.
ΓSIS<wiggle like a cursive r>
RIC Siscia 244, page 366
This smaller galley type was minted for Constans and not for Gallus, which proves this smaller (half) denomination is not merely reduced size later version of the larger galley type above. In contrast, the "soldier spearing fallen horseman" type started continued into the reign of Julian (Caesar in 355) with much reduced size and quality. That decline appears to have been caused by inflation.
Constantius II, struck
18 mm. 2.34 grams. 6:00
Mintmark: TESΓ
RIC Thessalonica 119
Type 4.4. "Emperor and one captive"
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
emperor standing left holding Victory on globe and standard with chi-rho, spurning (one) captive at feet left.
Struck for Constantius II and Gallus, only at Thessalonica.
Constantius II, struck early in
25 Dec. 350 - Winter 354
(struck after Vetranio and with Gallus)
24 mm. 5.78 grams. 12:00
Mintmark: *TSB• , Γ in field left, star in field right
RIC Thessalonica 178 v (unlisted officina)
Note for collectors: This type is scarce and often overlooked (For example, when Mattingly wrote his Numismatic Chronicle article on the FTR types, since reprinted, he forgot to mention this type). It is difficult to find in excellent condition (unlike the other FEL TEMP REPARATIO types) and very rare for Gallus.
Type 4.5. "Soldier spearing fallen horseman" which very rarely has a chi-rho. This one very small issue from Aquileia is the exception.
Constantius Gallus, struck 352-Winter 354
at Aquileia
21-20 mm. 4.04 grams.
Mintmark AQS
LXXII in field left (denoting 72 to the pound)
RIC Aquileia 196
This example is badly corroded, but very rare and not easily upgraded.
Continue with coins from the next table, Table 5 (AD 350: coins issued by Vetranio).
Go to the previous table 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.
Return to Table 4 on the main page.