Lot 2943

Description

Constantine I, (A.D.307-337), issue struck at Arles in 334, AE Folles, obv. CONSTANTI NVS MAX AVG, pearl diademed bust draped and cuirassed to right, rev. around [GLORIA] EXERCITVS, PCONST in exergue, chi-rho symbol above, two soldiers helmeted standing with each holding a spear, two standards between them, (cf.S.3886, RIC 381). Weak in places in the legend, otherwise very fine and extremely rare.

The chi-rho symbol (of immense Biblical-Christian importance), which occurs in the field, appears on only this small issue for Constantine the Great, and Bruun (RIC Volume VII), makes note of it as RRRR or R4 and could only find no more than three other examples.