Constantine I - Roman camp RARE (O2326)

CONSTANTINE I 'THE GREAT' (307/10-337). Follis. Thessalonica.

Obv: CONSTANTINVS AVG.

Laureate and cuirassed bust right.

Rev:  VIRT EXERC / •TS•Γ•.

Sol standing left in centre of plan of Roman camp, raising hand and holding globus.

RIC 66.

Condition: about very fine

Weight: 3.13 g.

Diameter: 19 mm.

Traditionally called "The plan of a Roman camp", this reverse type probably in fact depicts the famous vision of Constantine I, the cross within a circle surrounding the sun that he and his army saw in the sky while marching north from Marseilles in spring 310 AD. This explanation of the type, proposed by David Miller in The Celator some years ago, has assumed new claims to validity now that Peter Weiss, in Volume 16 (2003) of the Journal of Roman Archaeology, has convincingly explained Constantine's vision as a solar halo that appeared in Gaul in 310. This may be the last appearance of the pagan sun god on Roman coins.