Roman Antoninianus Coins

Inv. No.: c176
Date: After A.D. 330(?) (Hayes).
Weight: 5.30g
 
Obv.: Constantine(?), laureate, draped, cuirassed.
S P.F.AVG.

Rev.: Soldier standing, standard in right hand, globe(?) in left hand.
GLORIA ROMANORVM
* (?)
PHS(?)

Gloria depended on the recognition by others of a person or a nation great deeds. A preoccupation with gloria is present in Roman literature from the earliest fragments onwards.

GLORIA as a coin legend appears for the first time on a coin of Probus (276-282) and is repeated with great frequency on coins of the later Empire, e.g. GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, GLORIA EXERCITVS, GLORIA ORBIS, GLORIA ROMANORVM. The last was used for the first time, as a title of personal honour, by Constantine the Great. It was used also by his three sons and many of their successors.

After the fall of the Roman Empire the formula was revived on a gold medallion of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527-565): it bore the reverse legend SALVS ET GLORIA ROMANORVM (illustrated in BIC, vol. 1, frontispiece).