A New Roman Bronze

Aethelred · June 4, 2016 6:09AM

After a harrowing trip from Germany this arrived on my shores.

Constans, the son of Constantine the Great, was born in c. AD 320. His mother was the ill-fated Fausta who Constantine had executed in AD 326, possibly for her role in bringing false charges against Constantine's older son Crispus resulting in his execution. It is little wonder given their domestic situation that the three surviving sons of Constantine became the messed-up monsters they were.

When Constantine the Great died in AD 337 the empire passed to his three sons, Constantius II, Constantine II and Constans. However, due to his age Constans' affairs were looked after by his elder brother Constantine II who acted as a sort of regent, but the two quickly had a falling out. Constantine raised an army and marched on Constans' territory, but was killed almost at once (AD 340) by forced loyal to Constans.

Constans was never popular and in AD 350 Magnentius, a senior army officer declared himself emperor. Constans fled, but was captured in Gaul and put to death.

This example is an AE 3/4 minted at Siscia from AD 348-350. It is listed as RIC VIII 244 and SR-18730.