Among the commonest of Roman coins are two types struck by Constantine the Great and his sons between AD 330 and 341 to mark the foundation of Constantinople (present day Istanbul) as the eastern capital of the Roman empire. These coins are unusual in that they do not bear the portrait of the emperor. They were produced at twelve mints across the Roman empire which are identified by letters at the bottom of the reverse (the mint-mark). Sometimes there are symbols above the mint-mark.
Figure 1: CONSTANTINOPOLIS coin
The first design (fig. 1) has on one side a helmeted design facing left which personifies the city of Constantinople, with the inscription CONSTANTINOPOLIS or CONSTANTINOPOLI. The other side shows a figure of Victory standing on the prow of a ship and is a reference to Constantine's sea victory over his rival Licinius at Chrysopolis near Constantinople in AD 324.
Figure 2: VRBS ROMA coin.
The second design (fig. 2) also shows a helmeted head, this time identified as the personification of the city of Rome (VRBS ROMA) on one side, and on the other a she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, a reference to the legendary story of the foundation of Rome. The mint-mark is included beneath both these designs.
Bibliography
For a full description of the different varieties see:
P M Bruun, Roman Imperial Coinage, VII London, 1966.
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