Lot 144
Rome. Constantine I, the Great, 307-337 AD. Gold Solidus (4.47 g), Antioch mint, struck 335-336 AD. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Constantine right. Reverse: Victory walking left, holding pole with trophy, and in the other hand, a palm branch; VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVG, in right field VOT / XXX in two lines, and SMAN in exergue. Bastien, Donativa, p. 81, g; Biaggi 2013; RIC 96; C. 604; Fr-840 var. Very lustrous and exceptional, with handsomely styled, late portrait. Rare. NGC graded Uncirculated.
There were 19 different mint cities for the coinage of Constantine I, the Great. Mintmarks were almost always confined to the exergue of the reverse, often preceded by SM (Sacra Moneta). Thus on this coin, we read the Sacred Money [of] Antioch. Officina or mint workshop numbers were usually included afterward, indicating the specific part of the mint responsible for the fineness, weight and quality of design and strike. Depending on the location of the mint, Latin or Greek letters might be used for the workshops.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 56.
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| Realized $14,375 |
