Roman Third Brass Coins

Inv. No.: c182
Provenance: Nicomedia
Date: A.D. 337-350 (Hayes).
Weight: 4.42g
 
Obv.: Constans, diademed, draped.
D.N.CONSTANS P.F.AVG.

Rev.: Soldier, helmeted, spear in left hand, marching, looking back, leading young prisoner from dwelling; tree behind dwelling.
FEL.TEMP.REPARATIO
S… (Hayes)

When Constantine died in 337, Constantius II and his brothers, Constantine Junior and Constans, met at Constantinople and divided the Empire between them as Augusti. Their respective ages were twenty-one, twenty and seventeen. They were backed by the army, which declared that only Constantine’s sons should reign.

The reverse legend is common on silver and brass coins from the time of Constantius II, Constantine II and Constans as Augusti through the reign of Valentinian I, i.e. A.D. 337-375.

On the reverse the tree curves with the edge of the coin. A similar technique is used on coins 183 and 184.

After Constantine II was killed at Aquileia in A.D. 340, Constans was sole master of the West, as Constantius was of the East. Constans’ war with the Franks in 341 ended in an alliance and the return of the invaders to their homeland. He also restored a degree of tranquillity and order to the important province of Britain. Such achievements justify the proud claim of the reverse legend (lit. “successful restoration of the times”).

The usurper Magnentius had Constans murdered in 350.

Comparanda:
Cf. C., Constant I 18.