a. A certain number of these bear the legend "Virtus exeixitus ,-" and a fact worthy of remark, although but little observed hitherto, is that three of these pieces be- long to the two Licinii. We are entitled to believe that the coins comprising this series were struck be- tween the years 321 and 323.
h. To an age but little later belong a series of very interesting pieces with the images of Constantine, the father, and Crispus and Constantine the younger, bear- ing on the reverse several signs of Christianity, and the legend " Vicforice Icetce priitc. jjerp." Several copies
Coin of the Emperor Constantine. (Obverse : bust of the emperor, with the iuscripiion "Imp. Constaiitinus Avfi. ,•" helmeted head, on the helmet two monograms of Christ, separated by a b:iiid which supports the plume. Reverse: the legend as above, with winged figures and a shield.)
struck at Siscia or Aries have in place of the monogram two stars composed of the letters I and X, i. e. Jesus Christ.
c. The legend "Gloria exeiritus" is rend on a great number of pieces of Constantine the yoimger, of the Con- stantii his sons, and of Dalmatius his nephew, with va- rious Christian symbols, of the general type below.
Later Coin of Constantine. (Obverse ab above. Reverse : two hehneted soldiers, each lioldiug a spear and fiu'- nished with a shield ; between them the Coustautiuiau labariim.)
d. There are some pieces with the legend of Constan- tinople, or else of Rome or the Roman people, which have been assigned to Constantine or his sons.
e. Finally, we have some medals of consecration, on which the title " ducis'^ is given to Constantine. Eckhel was not aware of this epithet being attributed to Con- stantine and a number of his successors after their death.
3. Numismatics of the Successors of Constantine down to Julian the Apostate. — The most important of the changes that appear in these coins, and one that seems to have taken place in the very year that followed the death of Constantine, is the introduction of the svmbols
Coin of Constans. (Obverse: bust of the emperor, dia- demed, with the legend " D. N. Cimatans J'. F. Aug." Reverse* Constans in military dress on a vessel, hold- ing a globe surmounted by a phcouix or a small image of Victory, and the laharum.)
of eternity, the a and w, gradually amplified, and with various legends and devices, as in the preceding and following exam|)le.
Coin of Vetrnuio, colleague for six mouths with Constan- tius II. (Obverse: bust of Vetranio, diademed and bearded, to the right, with inscription " K. N. Vetranio P. F. Aiig.'' Reverse: legend " liestitutor reipublicce;" Vetranio holding the labaruni surmounted by a cross; Victory crowning him.)
Large Bronze Coin of Magnentius. (Obverse : bust of the emperor to the right, with inscription " D. X. Magnentius P. F. A tig." Reverse: the monogram of Christ occupy- ing the whole field, and in its best type, with the legend '• Salus DD. SX. Aug. et Cces.")
4. Christian Numismatics after Julian the Apostate to Augustulus (or the end of the empire of the West). — Some antiquarians attribute to Julian a bronze medal- lion containing a figure of the Christian monogram ; but if the piece be genuine it must belong to the very first portion of his reign. All his other coins, and they are very numerous, either bear no religious symbol, or else the figure of some of the pagan deities, as Apollo, Jupi- ter, Nilus, the Genius of Antioch, Anubis, etc.
Under Jovian, the immediate successor of .Julian, Christianity resumed on the ptdjlic coins its place, for the moment usurped, but not again to be lost. Jovian's coins bear new Christian types, and various devices, some equestrian, and generally the legend "Adcentus A uf/iisti,"
Yalentinian I, Yalens, Procopius, Gratian, and Yalen- tinian II introduced little modification into the signs of Christianity on their coins. The most common type is the ever-present laharum in the hand of the emperor, and the simple letter X in place of the fidl monogram of Christ. The following are notable examples :
Coin of Valentiniau I. (Obverse : bust of the emperor, dia- demed, front view; inscription, " D. N. Valentinianus D. F. Aug." Reverse: figure of Victory sitting, and holding iu her right hand a cross and a globe ; legend, "Jtestitu- tor reijniblicn'.")
Coin of Gratian. (Obverse: diademed bust of the emperor to the right, holding a spear; inscription, "i>. N. Ora- tianus P. F. Aug." Reverse: the emperor in military dress on a ship of which Victory holds the helm : on one side a cross, on the other a crown ; legend, "Gloria Romanoruvi")
NUMISMATICS
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NUMISMATICS
Under Thcodosius I, justly called the Great, and who had the distinguished honor of definitely establishing the Christian faith throughout the empire, few new types of coinage are found.
Coin of Flacellia, wife of Theortosius I. (Obverse: dia- demed bust of the empress to the right, with the in- scription "^t:i. Flacellia A vg." Reverse : Victory seated, writing on a shield the sign of Christ, with the legend " Salus reiptiblicce.")
The medals of the tyrant jMaximus, those of his son Victor, and likewise those of Eugenius, a usurper like theno, have the marks of Christianity more rare, and those that occur are of the common type.