Constantine Coins of Ancient Rome

Constantine I (306AD to 337AD)

The Roman Emperor, Constantine I was also known as Constantine the great during his reign. He was the first Roman ruler who converted his religion to Christianity. Founder of Constantinople (earlier known as Byzantium), was proclaimed as a capital by him and it lasted as a capital of the kingdom for more than 1000 years, which was approximately till 1453. He was the one responsible for the unification of a wobbling empire and also the one involved in re-organizing the Roman state. At the end, Constantine the great also laid the stage for the victory of Christianity at the end of 4th century.

Bronze Constantine I coins were minted primarily during his reign. The AE- 3 (20 mm 3.89g) coins minted during his period had the image of his face facing right wearing a laurel wreath and a paludamentum fastened on the right shoulder, on the obverse side. On the reverse side he faces the left side and wears a shining crown with a small cloak secured at the shoulder and his right hand raised.

Constantine II (337AD to 340AD)

The eldest son of Constantine I, Constantine II, was raised as a Christian. In the western area he was known as Caesar. During his reign he ruled Hispania, Gaul and Britain. Initially he was the guardian of his younger brother Constants. Later on, when the former invaded Italy he was killed in the battle by his brothers.

The bronze AE-3 Constantine II coin (19mm 2.7g) have the bust of Constantine on the obverse facing the right side and the reverse side has the Roman Army camp gate with two turrets. This side usually depicts the strength of the Roman army against the invading Barbarians.

Constantine III (407AD to 411AD)

Constantine III was a regular soldier who came to power due to mutiny in the rule of Honorius. He was an ordinary Roman soldier born of low rank at Naissus in Dacia. He was also known as Flavius Constantius and after following a military career he soon proved himself to be a soldier of outstanding ability.

In the reign of Honorius, he became the foremost general of the Western division of the Empire, and achieved considerable success against both usurpers and barbarians. His authority was so great that he became the effective ruler of the Western provinces, and in 417 A.D. he married Galla Placidia, the half-sister of Honorius. On February 8th, 421, he was raised to the rank of Augustus, but the government at Constantinople refused to recognize the new emperor, and civil war was only averted by the premature death of Constantius, not more than seven months after his elevation.