Catalogue information
Constantine bears the following titles on the obverse: imperator (originally 'commander-in-chief'. An imperial honorific), pius ('pious, dutiful'), felix ('happy, blessed') and august (literally 'exalted', imperial honorific). The reverse is dedicated to 'The invincible Sol, companion [of the emperor]' ('Soli invicto comiti [augusti]'). Constantine was born around 274 in Naissus, in the province of Moesia, as the son of the future emperor Constantius I and Helena. After his father's death in 306, he was proclaimed emperor by the legions, but he had to surrender his imperial title again on the authority of Galerius. In 307 he became emperor again and from then on the 'journey to supremacy' begins. He fought and conquered various 'fellow emperors' such as Maxentius, Licinius and the old Maximian. In 324, when Licinius was conquered, he was the sole ruler of the empire. Constantine is known as the first Christian emperor since his vision against Maxentius during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. He founded the city of Constantinople in 330 as the new capital of the empire. Constantine died of an illness in 337.
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