Rare Constantine III Siliqua
Constantine III. AD 407-411. AR Siliqua (17mm, 1.18 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. 2nd emission, May AD 408-late 409. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Roma seated left on cuirass, holding crowning Victory on globe and reversed spear; SMLD. RIC X 1531; King -; Lyon 251; RSC 4b. Near EF, toned, small flan crack. Rare.
Following the assassinations of the usurpers Marcus and Gratianus, Constantine III was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain. Hoping to ensure his own position, he sailed to Gaul where he met little opposition. Constantine was officially recognized by Honorius, though Theodosius and Arcadius failed to follow Honorius’ lead. Constantine proved to be a competent ruler, defeating the local barbarians and negotiating agreements with the Alamanni and Burgundians. Constantine was a bit over-ambitious though, as his attempt to enter Italy failed. Attacked by his own general Gerontius and eventually the troops of Honorius, he was killed in AD 411.
