Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 1067. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

COMMEMORATIVE SERIES. 337-354 AD. Æ Medallion (32mm, 19.12 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 340-350 AD. Draped bust of Roma left, wearing laureate crested helmet and necklace / Wolf to left, suckling Romulus and Remus; two stars above. RIC VII 349; RIC VIII 391; F. Ntantalia, Bronzemedallions unter Konstantin dem grossen und seinen söhnen, Series C, 106 (V77/R72); J.P.C. Kent, "Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis Medallions at the mint of Rome," Essays Sutherland, 19; Gnecchi 6. VF, brown patina, minor roughness, obverse smoothed. Very rare. ($1000)

On 11 May 330 AD, Constantine dedicated Constantinople as the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire. To mark the event, a sizeable output of coins were minted in many of the imperial mints. Included were medallions struck at Rome (lot 1067) depicting Roma or Constantinopolis on the obverse and various mythological reverses types proclaiming Constantine’s foundation of a new capital and dynasty, while associating this capital with Rome’s traditional seat of power, and legitimizing his dynasty through its connection to Rome’s mythological past. A second, smaller bronze medallion (lot 1069) was struck to commemorate a short-lived truce between Constantine’s successors, Constans, who ruled the western portion of the empire, and Constantius II, who ruled the eastern portion.