Lot 2947

Description

Constantinian period, Commemorative Series, (330-354). AE folles (17mm), (2.19, 2.17, 1.73 g), Treveri (Trier) mint, struck under Constantine I, 330-334, obv. Helmeted and mantled bust of Roma left, VRBS ROMA around, rev. she-wolf standing left, head right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; two stars above, first and third wreath above, second TRS*. (S.16487, 16489); others from Cyzicus mint (S.16522) (illustrated), Alexandria mint (S.165276) (illustrated) and Lugdunum mint (S.16493). Mostly good very fine - extremely fine. (6)

Ex M.J. Syddell Collection, first from Charing Cross in 1978, others from Glastonbury in 1969 and 1970, and Portobello Road in 1969.
With the dedication of the city of Constantinople in the spring of AD 330, Constantine I utilized a numismatic approach to place his newly-founded city on the same level of importance as Rome. These city commemoratives were struck to honor both Rome and Constantinople (see other examples in this sale), the former alluding to its legendary founding with the imagery of the she-wolf and twins and the latter alluding to the recent naval battle over the Licinii with Victory advancing from a conquest. Though meant to honor just these two cities, this series was struck throughout the empire at various mints. For further reading, see Kent, Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis medallions at the mint of Rome, pp. 105-13 in Essays Sutherland.