Roman Bronze Medallion of Constantine the Great

This exceptionally rare Roman Empire commemorative bronze medallion, minted by Constantine the Great between 327 and 328 CE, hails from a transformative period in history. Constantine's reign was marked by reforms, with strides to strengthen the military, combat hyperinflation and quell social and political unrest; however, the empire's gains during this period did not come without challenge. In the early 4th century, the Roman Empire was divided between two emperors, with Constantine ruling the West and Licinius ruling the East. Sharing such power created problems. Tensions erupted, forcing the two parties into battle, and Constantine emerged victorious as the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. This bronze coin would have been minted by Constantine to celebrate his military victories and political achievements and would have served as both a gift to important Romans and a propagandistic symbol of imperial might.

The bronze medallion depicts Constantine, in all his imperial glory, on the obverse. Flanked by the word CONSTANTI-NOPOLIS, the emperor faces to the left wearing a pearl necklace and laureate. His head is crowned with a crested helmet, underscoring his prowess as a formidable military leader. A scepter rests behind his back. The medallion's reverse depicts a powerful image of a large warship with a steersman and five rowers. On the prow of the boat, the deified Victory stands triumphant, grasping a wreath in her right hand and a palm over her left shoulder. The words V-IC-TORIA AVG mark the reverse, with AVG indicating that the obverse included a thin silver plate applied to the central bronze flan.

The 4th century's so-called "Constantinian shift" ushered in a new era of Roman prosperity and transformed the course of history. In 313, Constantine and Licinius signed the Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity throughout the entirety of the Roman Empire. The teamwork between the two emperors, however, was short-lived. The Battle of Hellespont in 324 CE saw the clash of Constantine and his eldest son Crispus against Licinius, in an effort to gain total control of a unified empire. Following Constantine's watershed victory, he looked to relocate the capital, hoping to find a location closer to both the Danube and Euphrates frontiers and more well-defended.

In 330 CE, the emperor consecrated Constantinople, now modern-day Istanbul, as the new capital of the ever-powerful Roman Empire. The massive building campaign on which he embarked included the Great Palace, the Augustaeum public square, the Hippodrome for chariot races, the Baths of Zeuxippus and the famed Constantinian Wall, which would position the capital as the most powerful city in the world for nearly a millennia. This important bronze medallion, a credit to the leader's successes in warfare and rulership, was minted during the earliest years of the city, which would never be conquered until the arrival of Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453. Monumental in its historical importance and rarity, there are only four known examples of this coin in the world.

This bronze medallion was previously held in the collection of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Minted 327-328 CE

Literature:
Alföldi, A. "On the Foundation of Constantinople: A Few Notes." In The Journal of Roman Studies, 1947, Vol. 37, Parts 1 and 2 (1947), pp. 10-16. Illustrated.
Froehner, W. "Choix de monnaies anciennes." In Annuaire de la Société française de numismatique, 1869.
Gnecchi, Francesco. I Medaglioni Romani. 2. Vol. 2. U. Hoepli, 1912.