Constantine II
Imperator Caesar Flavius Claudius Constantinus Augustus
Flavius Claudius Constantinus, the eldest son of Constantine I, was raised to Caesar in 317 and received Gaul, Britain, and Spain in the division of the empire after his father's death in 337. Resentful that his younger brother Constans had received a larger share of the West, he invaded Italy in 340 but was ambushed and killed near Aquileia. His death left Constans sole ruler of the West.
Constantine II's brief sole reign is best understood through his coins, plentiful in his Caesar years, then quickly superseded by his brothers' issues after 340. His GLORIA EXERCITVS types, shared with Constans and Constantius II, are among the most commonly encountered late Roman coins.
Key Events
Coinage
Constantine II's coinage is plentiful as Caesar and moderately common as Augustus. The GLORIA EXERCITVS (Glory of the Army) type, soldiers flanking one or two military standards, is the defining reverse of the sons of Constantine. His portrait as Augustus, showing a diademed, draped bust, follows the Constantinian style established by his father.
Denominations
Notable Types
- GLORIA EXERCITVS (one standard variant, the more common of the two)
- VICTORIAE DD AVGG Q NN (Victories of our two Emperors and Caesars)
- VOT V / VOT X commemorative types
Common Reverses
Active Mints
Related Resources
Further Reading
- Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume VIII,
- Roman Coins and Their Values, Volume IV,