Constantine II as Caesar AD 337-340 Bronze Follis Trier

Constantine II as Caesar AD 337-340 Bronze Follis

Bare headed bust right / Sol standing with globe and hand raised

Trier

RCV17109; 20mm, 3.36g

Constantine II was the second of the four sons of Constantine the Great however he may have been illegitimate as Fausta gave birth to Constantius II, Constantine the Great’s third son only 6 months later in AD 317. There are also coins showing Fausta with only 2 children in her arms. Constantius II and Constans. Although Constantine II was created Caesar upon his birth when his half brother Crispus was executed in AD 326 Constantine II became the senior heir.
Aged 20 years when his father died in AD 337 Constantine II was elevated to Augustus along with his 2 brothers Constantius II and Constans. He was further honoured when shortly afterwards his native city of Arles was renamed Constantia. Although Constantine II was the senior Augustus he received only the western provinces of Gaul, Britain and Spain as his territorial share of the empire. Dissatisfied Constantine II invaded Italy in AD 340 but was defeated by Constans and killed in an ambush near Aquileia.
There was little innovation in the currency during his reign apart from the introduction of a heavier version of the silver miliarensis at the same weight as the gold aureus. Most of the coinage of Constantine II was issued whilst he was a Caesar.