ID: R0384
Type: ANCIENT ROMAN - IMPERIAL
Issuer: CONSTANTINE I
Authority: CONSTANTINE I
Metal: BILLON
Denomination: AE 3
Year Struck: AD 323-324
Diameter: 18.43 - 18.53 mm
Weight: 2.80 g
Obverse Legend: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG
Obverse Description: Head of Constantine I, laureate, right
Reverse Legend: SARMATIA DEVICTA
Reverse Description: Victory, winged, draped, advancing right, holding trophy in right hand and pushing seated captive with left hand.
Exergue: PTR
Mintmark: PTR
Mint: TREVERI
Reference 1: RIC VII Treveri 429
Reference 2: SRCV 3880
Reference 3: VM 087
Grade: F
Patina / Color: Grey
Notes:
*** RARE !
This coin refers to a major victory over the Sarmatians in 322 A.D. This victory, however, was a big reason for the civil war with Licinius, since the territory that Constantine fought the Sarmatians in was actually under the control of Licinius.
When Constantine learned that the Sarmatians, who live near Lake Maeotis, had sailed across the Danube and were pillaging his territory, he led his army against them…he killed many, took more prisoners and put the rest to flight. - Zosimus 2:21
Licinius did not accept the gold coinage on which Constantine emblazoned his victory against the Sarmatians, but melted it down and converted it to other uses, giving no answer to those who faulted him with regard to this than that he did not wish foreign affairs to have a place in domestic business. - Petrus Patricius (circa A.D. 500- 565) The Lost History of Peter the Patrician F 208
OCRE:
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.7.tri.429Research Link 1:
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_trier_RIC_vII_429_P.txtResearch Link 2:
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_trier_RIC_vII_429_P.jpgResearch Link 3:
http://www.coinproject.com/coin_detail.php?coin=79388Research Link 4:
Full-Sized Item Image:
https://www.r5coins.com/mediafull/R0384.jpg