Lot 3584

Description

Constantinian period, Commemorative Series, (330-354). AE folles (18mm), (2.68, 2.32, 1.85, 2.35, 1.96 g), Constantinopolis type, struck under Constantine I, 330-337, obv. bust of Constantinoplis to left wearing laureate helmet and imperial robes, holding sceptre over shoulder, CONSTANTINOPOLIS around, rev.Victory standing left on ship's prow, holding transverse sceptre and resting on a shield each; in order of weights above, Cyzicus mint (S.16476); Trier mint (S.16445); Lugdunum mint (S.16448); Alexandria mint, (S.16481); Antioch mint, (S.16480). Mostly good very fine - extremely fine, first two illustrated. (5)

Ex M.J. Syddell Collection.

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 the later 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.