CNG 99, Lot: 758. Estimate $3000. Sold for $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Constantine III. AD 407-411. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 3.99 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 407-409. D N CONSTAN-TINVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AAAVGGGG, emperor standing right, spurning enemy, holding labarum and Victory on globe; L-D//COMOB. RIC X 1506; Lyon 244c-c₁; Depeyrot 20/3. VF, slightly wavy flan, light clipping, scattered scuffs and scratches, scrape across top of head repaired. Very rare.

Ex Künker 204 (12 March 2012), lot 898 (scrape on head since repaired).

Constantine III was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain following the assassinations of the usurpers Marcus and Gratianus. Hoping to ensure his position, he sailed to Gaul where he met little opposition. Constantine was officially recognized by Honorius, although Theodosius and Arcadius failed to follow Honorius’ lead. Constantine had early successes, defeating the local barbarians and negotiating agreements with the Alamanni and Burgundians, but his attempt to enter Italy failed. Attacked by his own general Gerontius and soon afterwards the troops of Honorius, Constantine was killed in 411. This solidus was struck early in his reign when there were four associate rulers – Constantine III, Honorius, Arcadius and Theodosius II – as advertised by the four Gs at the end of the reverse legend.