A large-sized commemorative bronze coin, which is one of the “medals of antiquity”. It was issued for the anniversary of the first twenty years (vicennalia) of Constantine I in power, in 326 AD by the mint of Rome. The reverse of the “medal” depicts Emperor Constantine I as Zeus, seated on a breastplate, offering a sphere with a phoenix (a mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes) to his son, Caesar Crispus. The young Caesar is depicted as a young Dionysus, with a trophy and a panther, symbolizing the victory over Licinius at Chrysopolis in Bithynia (324 AD) and the conquest of the East.

Constantine I and Crispus

Constantine was proclaimed Augustus in 306 AD, after the death of his father Constantius Chlorus. After his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of the Mulvian Bridge (312), he became master of the West and then, with his victory over Licinius at Chrysopolis in Bithynia (324), he became ruler of the entire empire. Although he co-equaled his four sons – Crispus (317), Constantine II (317), Constantius II (324) and Constans I (333) – as Caesars, he remained sole Augustus until his death. In 326, Crispus was executed by order of his father for a reason – adultery with his stepmother Fausta? – which remains unclear. The historian Eusebius of Caesarea reports that Constantine was depicted on his gold coins with his gaze upward, praying to God, perhaps as a sign of repentance. However, the reduction of the figure with a glance to the iconographic model of Alexander the Great is obvious and weighty: the monocrator of the Roman world appears beardless and above all a Thracian, as another, last, Alexander. Constantine introduced significant innovations in the administrative and military organization of the empire. He was responsible for the monetary reform and the introduction of the gold solidus (309/310), which remained the dominant monetary unit until the 11th century. On 11 May 330, he moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, which took his name: Constantinople.

The Mint of Rome

The activity of the mint of Rome reflects the strategic role of Italy in the political scene, in the years of Constantine I. At times it is the dominant mint and after Constantine’s visit to the city in 326 AD, it again issued gold coins. It produced rich coinage series that were part of the cult of the Sun (Sol invictus), which Constantine also embraced, until he accepted Christianity shortly before his death. The bronze coins of the Roman mint, with their variety and originality, reached their zenith at the time of the anniversary of Constantine’s twenty years (vicennalia) in power. The Roman mint also had the privilege of issuing gold, silver and bronze medals, until its decline began with the establishment of the new imperial seat in Constantinople.