CONSTANTINE II Jr. son of Constantine I Ancient Roman Coin VICTORIES i22122

Item: i22122

Authentic Ancient

Coin of:

Constantine II ‘Junior’ – Roman Emperor: 337-340 A.D. –

Bronze AE3 18mm (2.98 grams) Lugdunum mint 320 A.D.
Reference: RIC 90 (Lyons)
DNCONSTANTINOIVNNOBC – Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VICTORIAELAETAEPRINCPERP Exe: two bound captives, back to back – Two
Victories facing each other, holding together shield on altar reading VOT/PR.

 You are bidding on the exact item pictured,

Authenticity.

In

Roman mythology

, Victoria was the personification/Goddess of victory.

She is the Roman version of the

Greek goddess

Nike

, and was associated with

Bellona

. She was adapted from the

Sabine

agricultural goddess

Vacuna
and had

a

temple

on the

Palatine Hill

. Her name (in Latin) means victory. Unlike the Greek Nike, Victoria (Latin

for “victory”) was a major part of Roman society. Multiple temples were erected

in her honour. When her statue was removed in 382 AD by emperor

Gratianus

there was much anger in Rome. She was normally worshipped by

triumphant

generals returning from war. Also unlike the Greek Nike, who was known for success in athletic games such

as chariot races, Victoria was a symbol of victory over death and determined who

would be successful during war. Appearing on Roman coins, jewelry, architecture, and other arts, Victoria is

often seen with or in a

chariot
. An

example of this is her place upon the

Brandenburg Gate

in Berlin, Germany.

Flavius Claudius Constantinus, known in English as

Constantine II, (316-340) was

Roman Emperor

from 337

to

340. The eldest son of

Constantine the Great

and

Fausta
, he was

born at Arles
,

and was raised as a Christian.

On

March 1
,

317,

Constantine was made

Caesar

, and at the age of seven in 323, took part in his father’s campaign

against the

Sarmatians

. At the age of ten he became commander of

Gaul, after the

death of his half-brother

Crispus
. An

inscription dating to 330 records the title of Alamannicus, so it is

probable that his generals won a victory over the

Alamanni
.

His military career continued when Constantine I elected his son field commander

during the 332 campaign against the

Goths
.

Following the death of his father in 337, Constantine II

became emperor jointly with his brothers

Constantius II

and

Constans
.

After the division of the empire, made by the three brothers in September of the

same year in Pannonia, he ruled over

Gaul,

Britannia

and

Hispania
.

He was involved in the struggle between the different

Christian streams. The Western portion of the empire leaned towards

Catholicism

and against

Arianism
,

and Constantine freed

Athanasius

and allowed him to return to

Alexandria
.

This action also put some burden on Constantius II, who was a supporter of

Arianism.

At first, he was the guardian of his younger brother Constans, whose portion

was

Italia

,

Africa

and

Illyricum

. As Constans came of age, Constantine would not relinquish the

guardianship and in 340 he marched against Constans in Italy, but was defeated

at Aquileia

and he was killed in an ambush in

Cervignano del Friuli

. Constans came to control his deceased brother’s

realm.