CONSTANTINE w/ King of Gods, Jupiter, NIKE & Eagle, Imperial Roman Emperor Coin

Description

CONSTANTINE I (the Great), Roman Emperor 306-337 A.D.
Constantine the Great
is known as the father of the Constantinian Dynasty. He is known as the first emperor to convert to Christianity.  Constantine had a part in issuing the Edict of Milan which proclaimed religious tolerance for all religions across the empire. Constantine was a very successful general starting with his defeat of two other emperors, Maxentius and Licinius, during civil wars.  He then led successful campaigns against the Franks, Alamanni, Visigoths, and Sarmatians during his reign.  He built a new imperial residence in the ancient city of Byzantium, renaming it Constantinople.  This city would later be the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 years.  As a result, Constantine was also known as the founder of the Eastern Roman Empire.  Little is really known about Constantine's conversion to Christianity.  It was his sons who used Christian iconography on some of their coins.  There are two well-known stories about his vision of the cross in the sky before a big battle (starting the tradition of the use of the chi-rho symbol in military, state and religious events) and his deathbed baptism.
IOVI CONSERVATORI
A common Roman coin reverse type in the late third century and early fourth century has the legend
IOVI CONSERVATORI
and shows Jupiter standing, leaning on a scepter with an eagle. Jupiter holds a palladium (a globe with Victory on top of it).
Jupiter
was king of the gods who ruled the sky and thunder.  In the Roman state, he ruled over all affairs of government and law, or oaths and treaties, and protected Rome by striking down her enemies.
This coin shows Jupiter standing, leaning on a scepter signifying that Jupiter (the BIG KAHUNA GOD) was providing his protection to the Roman people and state.
The
victoriola
was a carved cult statue of Victory (NIKE), often with wings spread or standing on a globe. She is often holding up a Victory Wreath.
It symbolized the power and majesty conferred on a king or emperor by victory in battle. It is often shown on coin reverses being presented to the emperor by Jupiter or another Roman deity.
Roman Eagle
The eagle symbolized the might of the Roman Empire.
It was used as their national symbol because it was a symbol of the strength and courage associated with their Big Kahuna god, Jupiter.
It was commonly used on the Roman army standards called aquilae.
Roman mythology also ascribed to the belief that an eagle carried the soul of the Emperor to heaven during the ceremony of
apotheosis
.
This ceremony occurred after the death of the Emperor when his body was burned on a giant funeral pyre during which an eagle was released to allow his soul to reach the gods in the sky.
From that time on, he could be worshiped with the other Roman gods.
This coin was minted in the in the ancient city of
Siscia
, which was the chief town and colony of the province of Pannonia in what is now called Sisak, Croatia.  It was struck in one of many officinae or workshops in the city.
Officinae
were designated by a different letter of the Greek or Roman alphabets (in the case of this coin by the letter
B
indicating that it was struck in the 2nd
officina
), or by certain recognizable symbols such as palm branches, dots, stars, and sunrises.
CONSTANTINE I
AE Follis  (22-24 mm, 4.24 gm)
OBV:
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, laureate head right
REV:   IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; eagle with wreath in beak at feet; officina letter (B) in right field
EXE:  SMHT      Heraclea mint    RIC 75   313 A.D.
As usual, the pictures really don't do justice. Let me know if you have questions.
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I have collected Roman coins for many years and have always bought coins from trusted, reputable dealers. The coins I sell are ancient currency minted under the authority of the Roman Empire.  The details I describe (emperor, location, legends, etc) are derived from well-known and certified attribution sources.  The descriptions are guaranteed accurate as much as the condition of the coin allows.  This
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