Basil Sunier

Ancient Roman Coin Project

About the Coin

My coin, which is 2cm in diameter and 2.41g, has the reverse depiction of a falling horseman, the most common coin of the “dirty dozen.” It is made of bronze, with the obverse depiction being the emperor Constantius II facing right. The inscriptions on the obverse and reverse mean Constantius II Pious and Blessed (Constantinvs PF) and Restoration of happy times (Fel Temp Reparatio). The coin was originally minted in Antioch after 348 AD with a denomination of 3 AE. It is die oriented and was relatively easily distinguishable by the inscription and depiction.

 

Constantius II

        Constantius was born in August 317. Constantine the Great left three sons, who shared the empire between them; but two were killed early in life, and only Constantius, the second and worst of the brothers, remained Emperor. Constantius was a little, mean-looking man, but he dressed himself up to do his part as Emperor. He had swarms of attendants like any Eastern prince, most of whom were slaves, who waited on him as if he was perfectly helpless. He had his face painted, and was covered with gold embroidery and jewels on all state occasions, and he used to stand like a statue to be looked at, never winking an eyelid, nor moving his hand, nor doing anything to remind people that he was a man like themselves. He was timid and jealous, and above all others, he dreaded his young cousin Julian, the only relation he had left. Julian was extremely able, and Constantius II thought it best to keep him at a distance by sending him to fight the Germans on the borders of Gaul. Constantius died of a fever November 3, 361 AD. (aged 44) at Tarsus in Cilicia. His successor was Julian who became known as Julian the Apostate.