Lot 4969

Description

Constantine I, (A.D. 307/310-337), AE centenionalis (3.65 g), Aquileia mint, struck circa 320, obv. around CONST ANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust to right, with head of Medusa on breastplate, rev. VIRTVS EXERCIT, two captives seated at base of vexillum inscribed VOT/ X X in two lines; S-F, AQP in exergue, (S.16323, RIC VII 48 var.; Sagramora 250 var.; Paolucci 255 var.). Good extremely fine with partial silvering, very rare and possibly unrecorded with the Medusa head.

Ex CNG retail with their ticket. Sagramora (p. 128) suggests that the helmet worn by the emperor could specifically depict the plumed and jeweled golden helmet presented as a gift to Constantine by his future spouse Fausta at the imperial palace of Aquileia in 299.