Centenionalis of Constantine
Robin Dones said that he unearthed this coin on the 29th of September. It measures only 18mm in diameter but is shown greatly enlarged.
The coin is Roman, made of billon (very base silver) and the denomination is sometimes described as a centenionalis, at other times as a reduced follis. It was struck for Constantine, the eldest son of Constantine the Great. The younger Constantine was raised up to be Caesar in AD 317 and on the death of his father in 337 he ruled over Spain, Gaul and Britain as Constantine II. He soon fell out with his younger brother, Constans, and in 340 he crossed the Alps and invaded Italy. However, he met his end when was killed in an ambush.
Robin’s find has on the obverse a laureate head of Constantine and a legend reading CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C. On the reverse there is a wreath with a pellet in the centre, above which is VOT and below is X. The mint letters at the base of the wreath (PLON followed by a crescent) stand for London. On this side the legend reads CAESARVM NOSTRORVM.
In volume VII of Roman Imperial Coinage coins of this type are listed as number 292. Specimens are also listed in the Standard Catalogue as number 738.
This is not a rare coin but it is an attractive example of the type in VF condition and as it was struck at London this could make it more appealing to collectors of Roman coins