ID: R0059
Type: ANCIENT ROMAN - IMPERIAL
Issuer: CONSTANTINE I
Authority: CONSTANTINE I
Metal: BILLON
Denomination: AE 3
Year Struck: AD 323-324
Diameter: 18.50 - 19.69 mm
Weight: 2.23 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 spurning seated captive with left hand
Exergue: SIRM
Mintmark: SIRM
Mint: SIRMIUM
Reference 1: RIC VII Sirmium 48
Reference 2: LRBC I, 0802
Reference 3: SRCV 3880
Grade: VF-
Patina / Color: Lightly Silvered
Notes:
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.sir.48Research Link 1:
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_sirmium_RIC_vII_048.txtResearch Link 2:
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantine/_sirmium_RIC_vII_048.jpgResearch Link 3:
http://www.coinproject.com/coin_detail.php?coin=285890Research Link 4:
Full-Sized Item Image:
https://www.r5coins.com/mediafull/R0059.jpg