Constantine Junior Certified 330AD Roman Coin wSOLDIERS

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Certified Authentic Ancient Roman Coin of Emperor CONSTANTINE II JUNIOR Reigned: 316-340 CE i3408) Constantine II 'Junior'Bronze AE3 16mm Struck at the mint of Antioch 330-335 A.D. Reference: RIC 87 (VII, Antioch) Obverse: CONSTANTINVSIVNNOBC - Laureate, cuirassed bust right. Reverse: GLORIAEXERCITVS Exe: SMANS - Two soldiers standing on either side of two standards. CONSTANTINE II A.D. 337-340 Caesar, a.d. 316-337 Son of Constantine the Great and Fausta Brother of Constantius II, Constans, Constantina (w. of Hanniballianus & Constantius Callus) and Helena the Younger (w. of Julian II) Half-brother of Crispus Half-cousin of Delmatius, Hanniballianus, Constantius Gallus, Julian II, Licinius II and Nepotian Grandson of Constantius I, Helena, Maximian and Eutropia Uncle of Constantia (w. of Gratian) Flavius Claudius (or Julius) Constantinus ("Constantine Junior"), c. A.D. 316-340. Surprisingly little is known about Constantine II, the eldest son of Constantine the Great and Fausta. His personality is largely a mystery except that we know he was so fanatical about Orthodox Christianity that he threatened civil war in defense of his faith. Of his two wives, nothing of substance is known, not even their names. Although his parentage was questioned in ancient times, we may be certain that Constantine the Great was his father, and that Fausta — not a concubine — was his mother. He was born at Aries, a city in southern Gaul about 20 miles from the Mediterranean coast, and spent most of his life in the western provinces. Sometime late in 316, before he had reached his first year, Constantine II was given the extraordinary rank of Caesar alongside his much older half-brother, Crispus. About half a year later (after the First Licinian War had ended), Constantine II and Crispus were formally invested with that rank together with the child Licinius II, who was the heir of Constantine the Great's rival, Licinius I. The ceremony was held on March 1, 317, at Ser-dica. Constantine II was elected consul four times (320, 321, 324 and 329) during the two decades he held the rank of Caesar. Constantine II's formative years were eventful. In 323, though only about 7 years old, he accompanied his half-brother, Crispus, on campaign in Germany and in the following year, 324, the Empire came entirely under the control of their father, Constantine I. In September of that year Constantine I deposed Licinius I. In 326, Constantine II lost two close relatives: his mother, Fausta, and his beloved half-brother, Crispus. Both were executed on orders of his father in a confused atmosp of suspected treason and infidelity. The round of family executions certainly made it clear to Constantine II that no one was indispensable in his father's regime and that being a family member in and of itself offered no protection. Constantine II, though motherless and only about 10 years old, was now the senior heir in the Roman Empire. Consequently, he was sent to Trier to take over Crispus' Gallic command. Perhaps to acknowledge this important promotion, in 328 Constantine II's birthplace, Aries, was renamed Constantina in his honor. The young heir wasted no time in taking military action, and is credited with defeating the Alemanni about this time, though he was merely at his father's side. In 332, he temporarily left the Rhine frontier and joined his father's campaign against the Goths and Sarmatians in Thrace and Moe-sia. Their campaign was so successful was that they reportedly caused one of their opponents, the Visigothic king Alaric I, to sustain nearly 100,000 deaths among his followers. Constantine II subsequently returned to Trier. Toward the end of 335, Constantine the Great announced a plan for succession. The Empire was divided among his three sons, who already were Caesars, and two half-nephews (themselves brothers), who were br... read more

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