★ A splendid early solidus of Constantine I ★

Constantine I, 307/310-337. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.32 g, 12 h), Ticinum, autumn 315. CONSTANTI-NVS P F AVG Laureate head of Constantine I to right. Rev. RESTITVTORI LIBERTATIS / SMT Constantine I, on the right, standing front, head to left, in military attire, holding parazonium in his left hand and receiving globe from Roma, on the left, seated right, holding scepter in her left hand. Depeyrot 12/7. RIC 31 corr. (parazonium not scepter). Very rare. A splendid coin with a beautiful idealized portrait and a very interesting reverse. Good extremely fine.

From the collection of a retired senior air force officer, ex Goldberg 70, 4 September 2012, 3405, Gemini VIII, 14 April 2011, 438 and Rauch MBS 8, 1 October 2004, 599.

The reverse of this interesting issue refers to Constantine's Italian campaign against Maxentius in 312. After his victory in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge and the capture of the capital, Constantine painted his former rival, whose head he had carried around in the city on a spear, in the darkest colors, portraying him as a tyrant from which the Senate and the people of Rome had been freed. A broad iconographic program followed, which included a series of new coin types, including this one, presenting Constantine as the 'restorer of liberty'.