Owner Comments:
This remarkable nummus demonstrates how the rich diversity in the coinage of Constantine (ca. 272 - 337 AD) was not always under the Emperor’s direct control. Struck between 314 and 315 AD, the tense period between the First and Second Licinian Wars, this artistic, well-preserved bronze hails not from Constantine’s Western domains, but from the distant mint of Alexandria in Egypt. At the time, the Roman world was ruled by an uneasy diarchy, with Alexandria firmly controlled by Constantine's brother-in-law and rival, the Eastern Augustus Licinius.
On this coin, Alexandrian artistry is evident on both sides of the flan. The obverse portrait is best described as peculiar, the nose and eyebrow defined by a continuous, thick single line that frames a disproportionately large eye. Complementing Constantine's traditionally laureate head is the epithet FL VALER CONSTANTINVS PF AVG. The inclusion of the Valerian clan name is a throwback to when Constantine's father, Constantius, adopted the name upon joining the Tetrarchy. It is interesting to note that Constantine himself only employed "FL VAL" in his own coinage inscriptions very early in his reign as a Tetrarchal Caesar at his Western mints, and very briefly in Rome after defeating Maxentius; otherwise, he intentionally omitted it (another notable exception being the usurper Maxentius, who retained the title when he struck coins for Constantine in Rome and Carthage). In contrast, coins struck in Constantine's name at the Eastern mints under Licinius's control (Alexandria, Antioch, Cyzicus, Heraclea, and Nicomedia) extensively maintained the Valerian connection.
But on the obverse there is an even more anomalous and striking feature engraved by the unknown Alexandrian artisan responsible for this coin: Constantine's chin is sporting a distinct, compact goatee, while thin, yet prominent, sideburns suggest traces of at least a chinstrap beard. This is historically jarring, as Constantine aggressively popularized a clean-shaven, idealized, youthful portrait to intentionally distance himself from the bearded, blocky militarism of his Tetrarchic predecessors. However, the die engravers in Alexandria were thousands of miles away and working under the administration of Licinius, an Emperor who still sported the traditional, stubbly military beard. Lacking updated portrait busts from the West, or perhaps taking the liberty intentionally, the Eastern engravers simply assimilated Constantine’s name to the local template, projecting Licinius' facial hair and stylistic traits onto his Western counterpart. This collision of aesthetics between East and West provides a whimsical and highly coveted numismatic anomaly.
The theme of a simmering ideological divide between the two halves of the Empire continues on the reverse. While Constantine was experimenting with transitional themes on his Western coinage — such as the progressive deity of Sol Invictus, an approach that might safely appeal to Christians — Licinius was firmly keeping with old traditions. The reverse of this coin depicts the ultimate pagan theological scene: Jupiter, the king of the gods, holding the globe upon which Victory stands, with an eagle at his feet. The inclusion of the eagle is particularly noteworthy. This avian addition, Jupiter's sacred bird and personal messenger, represents ultimate divine authority, supreme power, and the favor of the gods over the empire; the eagle legitimized the emperor's rule as divinely ordained and granted from above. Completing the scene is the uncompromising legend IOVI CONSERVATORI, "To Jupiter the Preserver". Notably, the eagle and Jupiter were among the most prominent and enduring motifs in Alexandrian coinage.
Exactly what response Licinius hoped to achieve by pairing Constantine’s name with the traditional patron deity of the Diocletianic Tetrarchy remains a matter of historical debate. It may have been a metallic assertion of his own theological dominance — a firm reminder that the Eastern legions were fiercely pagan and not to be reckoned with. Alternatively, Licinius might have meant this as a diplomatic overture, an invitation to Constantine to maintain the East-West status quo and allow the worship of all gods under the sun. It is equally possible that this striking design was merely the result of an Alexandrian mint worker’s ingenuity, doing his best to produce a coin that would offend neither Licinius nor Constantine. Whether this messaging represented an intentional threat, a plea for peaceful coexistence, or simply a local engraver playing it safe, the eclectic mix of elements on this nummus provides a microcosm of the richness, diversity, and geopolitical intrigue of Constantine's coinage.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantine I, AD 307/310-337, Struck by Licinius, BI Nummus (19.5mm, 4.83 g, 12h), Alexandria mint, 1st officina, Struck AD 314-315, NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Laureate head right, FL VALER CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Reverse: Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe right and scepter; at feet to left, eagle standing left, head right, N to Left, A to right, ALE in exergue, IOVI CON-SERVATORI, References: RIC VII 6, ex-Barry N. Rightman Collection and ex-Bill Warden collection.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm 2.8/100 Macro GM lens.