commemoratives

Commemorative Roman coins from 306 to 324

This is one web page of many on Roman coins from 284-324. There is a page of links to all the topic pages. This current page follows an introductory page on coins of 306 to 324.

Constantius is commemorated on a large follis minted by Constantine (coin to the right, details below).

Commemorative coins of 306 to 324 belong to several categories:

• For Constantius by Constantine and by Maxentius, 306-7 (below)
• For Romulus by Maxentius, 309-312 (below)
• For Constantius, Maximian, and Galerius by Maxentius (one below and all on their own page), c. 310-311
• For Galerius by Maximinus II as AVG FIL, 311 (below)
• For Galerius by Licinius, 311 (below)
• For Claudius II, Constantius, and Maximian by Constantine, 317-318 (below)

References to RIC are to volume VI, "Diocletian to Maximinus" (for all but the last group) and volume VII "Constantine to Licinius" (for the last group minted by Constantine 317-318).

Constantius by Constantine. Constantine became emperor upon the death of his father Constantius. Under the tetrarchal system a new ruler was supposed to be selected because he was highly-qualified, not just because he was the son of the ruler as had been normal, and would be normal throughout most of history. Under the tetrarchal system the other tetrarchs had reason to think Constantine should not have become Caesar. Constantine owed his promotion entirely to being the son of his father. Almost immediately he deified his father and had his mints strike commemoratives for Constantius.

For Constantius by Constantine
30-27 mm. 8.90 grams.
Struck "late 306 - early 307" by Constantine
at Lugdunum (Lyons).

DIVO CONSTANTIO AVG
Laureate head right
CONSECRATIO,
eagle standing right, head turned back and up
PLG

RIC Lugdunum 202.

Constantius by Maxentius. The next two are from Aquileia and Ticinum. It is uncertain when Maxentius gained control of the Aquileia and Ticinum mints. When Severus II was still alive these were his mints and he would have had reason to issue commemoratives for Constantius. However, RIC does not think he did. This type and the next have the lower weights introduced by Maxentius ("c. 7.0-6.0 grams"; the previous coins under Severus II and Galerius had been "10.5-8.5 grams"), so RIC includes them with issues of Maxentius.

For Constantius by Maxentius
25 mm. 7.32 grams.
DIVO CONSTANTIO AVG
Veiled head right.
MEMORIA DIVI CONSTANTI
Square two-door altar enclosure
eagle on top with wings half spread and wreath in beak
AQS

RIC Aquileia --. Similar to 127 "Autumn 307 -c. 309/10," but that obverse ends PIO, not AVG.

For Constantius by Maxentius
26-24 mm. 6.57 grams.
DIVO CONSTANTIO AVG
Veiled head right.
MEMORIA DIVI CONSTANTI
Domed shire with arched double doors closed
eagle on top
TT

RIC Ticinum 97 "autumn 307 - Spring 308"

Romulus by Maxentius. In 309 the young son of Maxentius died. The first coin shows he had already been made consul twice. We infer he died in 309 because coins of 310 have Maxentius as consul alone. Some remains of his tomb still exist near Rome. Coins show at least three different architectural designs--possibly because the coins were issued before the design of the shrine was finalized.

For Romulus by Maxentius
24 mm. 6.45 grams.
DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS
(Nobilissimus Vir Bis Consul)
(most nobleman twice consul)

AETERNAE MEMORIAE
Domed shine, doors ajar, eagle on top. No columns.
MOSTQ

RIC VI Ostia 34 "Late 309-Oct. 312"
Sear IV 15050 "309-310"

For Romulus by Maxentius
24 mm. 5.56 grams.
IMP MAXENTIVS DIVO ROMVLO N V FILIO
Bare head right.
AETERNAE MEMORIAE
Domed 6-column shine, doors ajar, eagle on top.
REP

RIC Rome 256 "c. 310-311"
Sear IV 15047

For Romulus by Maxentius
16 mm. 2.12 grams. (Much smaller than a follis.) Sear calls it a "third follis."
DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS
Bare head right
AERTERNAE MEMORIAE
Domed shrine, right door ajar, eagle on top
R Q

RIC Rome 239 "c. 310"
Sear IV 15053 "309-310"

There is a rare follis for Romulus, not illustrated here, in which the facade of the domed temple is much more complicated, with four short columns holding up two small arches on either side of the door.

Galerius by Maximinus. Maximinus was Caesar under Galerius in the Second Tetrarchy. Maximinus took the title Augustus a little before the Augustus Galerius died, but he certainly owed a lot to Galerius and Galerius had, in 308, awarded him the title FIL AVG, so he could claim to be a "son" (AVG FIL) of Galerius.

For Galerius by Maximinus II, c. May 311 - 312.
26-25 mm. 5.36 grams.
DIVO MAXIMIANO MAXIMINVS AVG FIL
"Divo Galerius (by) Maximinus II as AVG FIL"
Bare head right.
AETERNAE MEMORIAE GAL MAXIMIANI
lighted altar, with eagle above garland on front
<crescent> A
K P
ALE

RIC VI Alexandria 133

Galerius by Licinius. Licinius was appointed Augustus at the Conference at Carnuntum which had been called by Galerius. Galerius was his sponsor and therefore worthy of commemoration.

For Galerius by Licinius, c. 311
25 mm. 4.17 grams.
DIVO MAXIMIANO
Veiled head right
MEM DIVI MAXIMIANI
Domed shrine with closed doors, eagle on top
(Now the Church of St. George in Thessalonica)
B
•SM•TS•

RIC VI Thessalonica 48v (R5 with "A" and unlisted with this "B")

For Galerius by Licinius "late 311"
26-23 mm. 6.18 grams.
DIVO GAL VAL MAXIMIANO
Veiled head right
FORTI FORTVNAE
Fortuna standing left holding rudder on globe and cornucopia, wheel behind
A
SIS
This type is only from Siscia.

RIC VI Siscia 221 "late 311"

Constantius, Maximian, and Galerius by Maxentius. Maxentius minted commemorative coins that employ the unusual words Adfini, Cognat, Patri, and Socero to indicate types of relatives. There is a page devoted to these four types. Only one is illustrated here.

Adfini for Constantius, refers to a relative by marriage. Constantius was the father of Maxentius's sister's (Fausta's) husband (Constantine).
Cognat for Constantius, refers to a kinsman.
Patri means father. Maximian was the father of Maxentius.
Socoro means father-in-law. Maxentius, son of Maximian, was married to a daughter of Galerius in another dynastic marriage, making Galerius the father-in-law of Maxentius. When Galerius died, it was appropriate to include him in this commemorative series. It was one more connection to the legitimate emperors.

Divus Galerius, d. May 311. Struck by Maxentius in 311.
25 mm. 6.08 grams.
IMP MAXENTIVS DIVO MAXIMIANO SOCERO (3:00-5:00)
SOCERO = father-in-law
This legend for Galerius (whose name included "Galerius Maximianus") is very much like the legend for Maximian, but the portraits are distinguishable and here the relation PATRI is replaced by SOCERO.
AETERNAE MEMORIAE
Domed shrine with 6-columns, right door ajar. On top, eagle with wings half spread and wreath in beak.
REQ

RIC Rome 248
Lovely reddish patina.

For the rest of the types in this series, see the page "Adfini, Cognat, Patri, Socero, under Maxentius at Rome."

Constantine commemorates family members. The family members commemorated by Constantine are
• Claudius II, 268-270 (The evidence that Claudius II was related to Constantine is not strong, so it may be they were not related, but Constantine thought adopting him into the family would be good propaganda.)
• Constantius, 293-306, and
• Maximian, 286-305 and 306-308.

Coins in this series come in two sizes, c. 19 mm (a "nummus") and c. 16-15 mm, its half.

There are three reverse designs:
• emperor seated left in curule chair, REQVIES QPTIMORVM MERITORVM (or some abbreviation of that)
• eagle, standing right, head back, with wings partially spread, MEMORIAE AETERNAE
• lion standing right, MEMORIAE AETERNAE (sometimes with a club above the lion)

The same design may appear on both denominations. The third and fourth coins below illustrate the two denominations with the "emperor seated" design for Maximian. So, there could be as many types as 3 (emperors) times 3 (designs) times 2 (denominations) = 18 types (not counting minor legend varieties and not counting different mints or different officina of the same mint as different). However, I am not sure all possible design combinations were actually minted.

For Claudius II by Constantine
19 mm. The larger of the two sizes.
DIVO CLAVDIO OPTIMP IMP
Head right veiled and laureate
REQVIES OPTIMOR MERIT
Emperor seated left, veiled, in curule chair,
raising right hand and holding short scepter in left.
RT

RIC VII Rome 106, "317-318" "r1"

For Constantius by Constantine
15 mm. The smaller of the two sizes.
DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO PRINC
Head right, veiled and laureate.
MEMORIAE AETERNA
eagle right, wings half spread, head turned back
R P

RIC VII Rome 111 "317-318" "r2"

Note for collectors. The rarity ratings in RIC VII are misleading. It was published in 1966 and many varieties were listed as very rare at that time. Many coins have been discovered since them. Also, RIC rarities are given for particular varieties of particular issues with specific officina numbers. In this series there are often numerous "varieties" that most collectors would consider to be the same "type," so the rarity of the type is not as extreme as the rarity of one RIC number would suggest. Many coins of this series are on the market at any given time (possibly because they remain in dealers' stocks because they do not sell at the high prices asked for such small coins which are not as rare as the rarities given in RIC).

For Maximian by Constantine
20-19 mm. 2.99 grams.
DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP
"SEN FORT IMP" is an unusual obverse title.
Head right, veiled and laureate.
REQVIES OPTIMOR MERIT
Emperor seated left, veiled, in curule chair,
raising right hand and holding short scepter in left.
R Q

RIC VII Rome 104 "317-318" "r3"

For Maximian by Constantine.
16 mm. 1.28 grams. The "half nummus" denomination. The design is very similar, only on a smaller flan.
DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
REQVIES OPTIMORVM MERITORVM (longer than the legend above, even though this is the smaller denomination)
Emperor seated left, veiled, in curule chair,
raising right hand and holding short scepter in left.
SIS
RIC VII Siscia 41 "317-318" "r3"

The next coin is similar, with the same size and reverse type and portrait, but a different obverse legend. It is from a different mint.

For Maximian by Constantine.
18-16 mm. The "half nummus" denomination.
DIVO MAXIMIANO OPTIMO IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
REQVIES OPTIMORVM MERITORVM (longer than the legend above, even though this is the smaller denomination)
Emperor seated left, veiled, in curule chair,
raising right hand and holding short scepter in left.
•TS•Γ•
RIC VII Thessalonica 24 "317-318" "r5"

For Claudius II by Constantine.
15 mm. 1.68 grams.
DIVO MAXIMIANO OPTIMO IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
REQVIES OPTIMORVM MERITORVM
Emperor seated left, veiled, in curule chair,
raising right hand and holding short scepter in left.
SIS
RIC VII Siscia 43 "317-318" "r3"

The "lion" reverse has varieties with (not illustrated here) and without a club.

For Maximian by Constantine
16-15 mm. 2.09 grams.
DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
MEMORIAE AETERNA
Lion standing right, tail curling up.
RT

RIC VII Rome 123 "317-318" "r2"

For Constantius by Constantine
16-15 mm. 2.16 grams.
DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO PRINC
bust right, veiled and laureate.
MEMORIAE AETERNAE
Lion standing right, tail curling up
R T
RIC VII Rome 124 "317-318" "r3"

For Claudius II by Constantine.
16 mm.
DIVO CLAVDIO OPT IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
MEMORIAE AETERNAE
Lion standing right, tail curling up.
R T

RIC VII Rome 125 "317-318" "r3"

For Claudius II by Constantine.
17 mm.
DIVO CLAVDIO OPT IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
MEMORIAE AETERNAE
eagle right, wings half spread, head turned back
R S

RIC VII Rome 112 "317-318" "r1"

For Maximian by Constantine
17-16 mm.
DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP
Head right, veiled and laureate.
MEMORIAE AETERNA
eagle right, wings half spread, head turned back
RT

RIC VII Rome 110 "317-318" "r3"

For Constantius by Constantine
19 mm.
DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO PRINC
bust right, veiled and laureate.
REQVIES OPTIMOR MERIT
Emperor seated left, veiled, in curule chair,
raising right hand and holding short scepter in left.
R P

RIC VII Rome 105 "early 317" "r4"

Conclusion. In the period 306 to 324 several emperors are honored with commemorative types.

• For Constantius by Constantine, 306-7 (above)
• For Constantius by Maxentius, c. 307-8 (above)
• For Romulus by Maxentius, 309-312 (above)
• For Constantius, Maximian, and Galerius by Maxentius (one above and all on their own page), c. 310-311
• For Galerius by Maximinus II as AVG FIL, 311 (above)
• For Galerius by Licinius, 311 (above)
• For Claudius II, Constantius, and Maximian by Constantine, 317-318 (above)

The End

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