ITEM: Pendant with Constantine I 'The Great' coin MATERIAL: Silver and bronze CULTURE: Roman PERIOD: 4th Century A.D DIMENSIONS: 17 mm diameter CONDITION: Good condition. Original coin within a modern handmade circular silver setting. PROVENANCE: Ex Belgian private collection, acquired in the 1990s (Coin) Comes with Certificate of Authenticity. COIN DESCRIPTION: Constantinus I (306-337) Follis. Obverse: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG, diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right. Reverse:GLORIA EXERCITVS, two Soldiers standing front, heads turned inward at two standards between them Constantine I, known as Constantine the Great (reigned 306–337 CE), was one of the most influential emperors of the Roman Empire. He rose to power during a turbulent period of civil wars and successfully consolidated control over the entire empire after defeating his rivals, including Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE. His reign marked a turning point in Roman history, as he stabilized the empire, reformed its administration, and laid the foundations for the Byzantine Empire. Constantine’s leadership not only preserved Roman unity for a time but also reshaped its cultural and religious landscape. One of Constantine’s most lasting achievements was his relationship with Christianity. Before his rule, Christianity had been persecuted by Roman authorities, but Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313 CE legalized the religion and allowed Christians to worship freely. Though he did not make Christianity the empire’s official religion, his support—including patronage of church construction and involvement in theological debates like the Council of Nicaea (325 CE)—helped transform it from a marginalized sect into a dominant faith. His reign thus marked the beginning of Christianity’s rise as a central force in European history. In addition to his religious policies, Constantine also left a political and cultural legacy by founding the city of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in 330 CE. Built on the site of Byzantium, this new capital was strategically located between Europe and Asia, ensuring control over important trade routes and military positions. Constantinople became the center of the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, which would endure for nearly a thousand years after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Constantine the Great is remembered as both a shrewd ruler and a transformative figure, whose reign reshaped the Roman world and paved the way for medieval Christendom.