Roman Empire "Constantine the Great" NGC Ch AU 5x4
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An Extraordinary Numismatic Rarity from the Age of Constantine the Great
Constantine I, AD 307/310–337. AV Solidus (18mm, 4.33g, 12h). Struck at the Ticinum mint in AD 315, this exceptional gold solidus offers a rare and powerful portrait of one of the most transformative figures in Roman imperial history. Graded Choice About Uncirculated* (Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5) by NGC (encapsulation 2113106-062), this piece stands as the finest of only two known examples—an extraordinary survivor from the early 4th century and a trophy of imperial propaganda and artistry.
On the obverse, the laureate bust of Constantine the Great faces right, encircled by the inscription CONSTANTINVS P F AVG (Constantinus, Dutiful and Fortunate Augustus). The portrait exudes the confidence of an emperor on the rise—one who had recently emerged triumphant from the pivotal Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, a victory that would cement his power and usher in a new Christian era for the Roman Empire.
The reverse, inscribed VIRTVS AVGVSTI N ("The Courage of Our Augustus"), is a striking military tableau. Constantine, clad in ornate military regalia with his cloak (paludamentum) billowing dramatically behind him, charges forward on horseback. His right hand is raised in salute or command, while his left arm bears a shield. Beneath his steed lie three defeated enemies, impaled on Roman spears—stark symbols of imperial might and divine favor. The reverse is signed SMT (Sacra Moneta Ticinum), indicating its origin at the mint of Ticinum (modern Pavia).
This coin is not only rare—it is extremely rare, with just one other known example, cited in RIC VII 35 and once belonging to the Laffranchi Collection. That coin was famously sold by Rollin & Feuardent in 1909. The present piece, however, surpasses it in both condition and strike, making it a numismatic masterpiece of the Constantinian era.
The coin’s historical importance is magnified by the legacy of Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great. As the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine reshaped the cultural and spiritual landscape of the empire. He founded Constantinople—the new eastern capital that would become the heart of the Byzantine world—and played a pivotal role in the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, which established foundational Christian doctrine. His reign marked the transition from pagan Rome to a Christian empire, setting the stage for over a millennium of Byzantine rule.
Provenance: Ex MDC Monaco 11 (21 April 2023), lot 402; previously offered by Nomisma S.p.a. 34 (28 April 2007), lot 372; and earlier by Giessener Münzhandlung 48 (2 April 1990), lot 961.
A magnificent testament to imperial ambition, military power, and the ideological transformation of the Roman world—this coin is not only a rare artifact but a window into the age of Constantine the Great.
Constantine I, AD 307/310–337. AV Solidus (18mm, 4.33g, 12h). Struck at the Ticinum mint in AD 315, this exceptional gold solidus offers a rare and powerful portrait of one of the most transformative figures in Roman imperial history. Graded Choice About Uncirculated* (Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5) by NGC (encapsulation 2113106-062), this piece stands as the finest of only two known examples—an extraordinary survivor from the early 4th century and a trophy of imperial propaganda and artistry.
On the obverse, the laureate bust of Constantine the Great faces right, encircled by the inscription CONSTANTINVS P F AVG (Constantinus, Dutiful and Fortunate Augustus). The portrait exudes the confidence of an emperor on the rise—one who had recently emerged triumphant from the pivotal Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, a victory that would cement his power and usher in a new Christian era for the Roman Empire.
The reverse, inscribed VIRTVS AVGVSTI N ("The Courage of Our Augustus"), is a striking military tableau. Constantine, clad in ornate military regalia with his cloak (paludamentum) billowing dramatically behind him, charges forward on horseback. His right hand is raised in salute or command, while his left arm bears a shield. Beneath his steed lie three defeated enemies, impaled on Roman spears—stark symbols of imperial might and divine favor. The reverse is signed SMT (Sacra Moneta Ticinum), indicating its origin at the mint of Ticinum (modern Pavia).
This coin is not only rare—it is extremely rare, with just one other known example, cited in RIC VII 35 and once belonging to the Laffranchi Collection. That coin was famously sold by Rollin & Feuardent in 1909. The present piece, however, surpasses it in both condition and strike, making it a numismatic masterpiece of the Constantinian era.
The coin’s historical importance is magnified by the legacy of Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great. As the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine reshaped the cultural and spiritual landscape of the empire. He founded Constantinople—the new eastern capital that would become the heart of the Byzantine world—and played a pivotal role in the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, which established foundational Christian doctrine. His reign marked the transition from pagan Rome to a Christian empire, setting the stage for over a millennium of Byzantine rule.
Provenance: Ex MDC Monaco 11 (21 April 2023), lot 402; previously offered by Nomisma S.p.a. 34 (28 April 2007), lot 372; and earlier by Giessener Münzhandlung 48 (2 April 1990), lot 961.
A magnificent testament to imperial ambition, military power, and the ideological transformation of the Roman world—this coin is not only a rare artifact but a window into the age of Constantine the Great.
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