431, Lot: 436. Estimate $100. Sold for $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Constantine I. AD 307/310-337. Æ Follis (19mm, 2.87 g, 11h). Dafne Coinage. Constantinople mint, 7th officina. 2nd emission, circa late AD 327. CONSTANTI NVS MAX AVG, laurel and rosette-diademed head right, eyes to God / CONSTANTINI ANA DAFNE, Victory seated left on cippus, head right, holding palm frond with each hand; to left, bound captive seated left, head right, at base of trophy; Z/-//CONS. RIC VII 32B; Speck and Huston Issue 2. Near EF, brown patina. Very rare with this officina of the 2nd emission.

McGregor (SAN 1984) in his article Constantiniana Dafne–a different point of view, is quoted by Speck and Huston in the their study of this coinage Constantine’s Dafne Coinage at Constantinople, p. 2 “McGregor set out the religious significance of this reverse type–portraying Constantine as Dafne, turning away from the symbols of the pagan religion (Apollo and Sol) toward the palm, symbol of Christianity. It is the first obviously Christian coinage design ever issued at a Roman mint. Its significance at this mint at this time can hardly be misinterpreted–Constantine is announcing to his new city that it is to be a Christian city. The message is local and specific, and it is the only message he presents on the coinage during the entire period of its construction as the new Christian capitol.”