★ Extremely Rare Solidus of Constantine I 'the Great' ★

Constantine I the Great AD 306-337. Treveri
Solidus AV

17 mm, 4,47 g

CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head of Constantine I to right / GLORIA EXERCITVS GALL, Constantine riding on horse slow-trotting to right, raising right hand; PTR in exergue.

Some hairline scrapes, otherwise, very fine

RIC VI 812 (R2); Depeyrot 17/5.

Extremely Rare; only 2 other examples auctioned in the past 20 years. Ex Harmers of London, Auction 3, 26 September 2022, lot 113; Ex Burgan Numismatique - Maison Florange, E-Auction 22-1, 6 March 2022, Lot 30. The horse Constantine is riding appears to be engaging in passage, a special, collected trot still practiced in equestrian competitions. The legend pays tribute to the Roman legions of Gaul, whose fervent support in the upcoming civil wars against Maxentius (AD 312) and Licinius (AD 324) would win him control of the entire Roman Empire.