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Constantine II
AV Solidus, 4.41g. 22mm. Aquileia, 337 A.D. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG. Laureate, roseatte-diademed, and cuirassed bust of Constantine to right. Rev. GAVDIVM POPVLI ROMANI. Victory seated to right on a cuirass supporting a shield inscribed VOT XX MVLT XXX; Genius standing to left also supporting the shield; SMAQ in exergue. RIC 4. Depeyrot 1/1 (this coin illustrated). Bastien, Numismatica 2, 1961, fig. 2 (this coin illustrated). Cohen_. Extremely rare and possibly the second known example; unusual bust style and mint. Ex: Pierre Bastien collection, purchased from Jean Vinchon, Paris, in 1960. Ex: Edward J. Waddell, Inv. No. 54485, 05/26/2025.
Constantine II, the eldest son of Constantine the Great and Fausta born in 316 AD, was groomed from an early age for leadership in the Roman Empire. At the age of ten, he was appointed Caesar by his father, and he gained military experience during campaigns along the Rhine frontier. Following the death of Constantine the Great in 337, the empire was divided among his three surviving sons: Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans.
Constantine II inherited control over the western provinces, including Gaul, Britannia, and Hispania. As the senior emperor, or primus inter pares (first among equals), he sought to expand his authority. Tensions quickly developed between Constantine II and his younger brother Constans, who ruled over Italy, Africa, and the Balkans. Constantine II claimed guardianship over Constans due to his youth, but as Constans matured and asserted his independence, conflict became inevitable.
In 340 AD, Constantine II launched a military campaign against Constans, attempting to seize Italy. However, his invasion ended in failure. He was ambushed and killed near Aquileia, abruptly ending his short reign. He was only 24 years old at the time of his death.
Constantine II’s reign is often overshadowed by those of his father and brothers, but it reflects the instability that plagued the Roman Empire following Constantine the Great’s death. His ambitions and early demise exemplify the challenges of shared imperial rule, a system that often led to internal strife. Though not a major reformer or conqueror, Constantine II remains a significant figure in the transitional period of late Roman history, as the empire grappled with succession, division, and the legacy of Christianity’s establishment under his father.
Soldi of Constantine II are scarce but not at the same level of rarity as the later shadow emperors. In other areas of numismatics Constantine II would be considered a "semi-key date". This coin is a very unusual bust type, perhaps one of two examples known, and as such this coin has been published. Normally the Roma Aeterna Collection does not emphasize pedigree or rare types. But this coin is also in an exceptional state of preservation with a full strike, perfect centering, and gorgeous eye-appeal. All-in-all, a highlight of the collection.