Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 1608. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CONSTANTINE III. 407-411 AD. AV Solidus (4.48 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 408-411 AD. D N CONSTAN-TINVS P F AVG, laurel and rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AAAVGGG, Constantine standing right, holding vexillum in right hand, Victory on globe in left, left foot on captive; L-D//COMOB. RIC X 1512; Lyon 250; Depeyrot 22/2; DOCLR 793 var. (rosette diadem). EF. Very rare. ($5000)

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, and his attempt to enter Italy failed. Attacked by his own general Gerontius and eventually the troops of Honorius, Constantine was killed in 411 AD. This solidus was struck early in the reign when there were four associate rulers, Constantine III, Honorius, Arcadius and Theodosius II, as advertised by the four G’s in AVG on the reverse.