Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. Rare follis of Empress Helena, set in a modern silver brooch with a Greek Meander border. Obverse: mantled bust right with necklace, wearing band diadem decorated with string of pearls, hair crest. Reverse: SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICE, Securitas standing left, holding branch and hem of robe. Mintmark SMKA dot. Diameter brooch: ± 37 mm EF condition, smooth and shiny dark olive-green patina with spots of cuprite. The coin is fixed in a custom made silver border with a brooch pin. Certificate: Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) available upon request Historical context: -> Coins were powerful instruments of communication in the ancient world. Rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange. -> Empress Helena, also known as Saint Helena, was the mother of Constantine the Great and is a significant figure in early Christian history. She is often associated with the promotion of Christianity in the Roman Empire. Helena's name itself has Greek origins. The name "Helena" (Ἑλένη in Greek) is derived from the Greek word for "torch" or "light," which symbolizes brightness and illumination. Helena was born around 248 AD in the region of Bithynia. This area had a rich cultural mix, including Greek influences due to the Hellenization of the region following the conquests of Alexander the Great. -> SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE / SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE: Latin for 'Security of the Republic'.