Constans - Roman Emperor: 337-350 A.D. -
Bronze AE3 16mm Struck at the mint of Siscia 337-340 A.D.
CONSTANSPFAVG - Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right.
GLORIAEXERCITVS Exe: ЄSIS - Two soldiers standing either side of a labarum
topped with Chi-Rho (Christ monogram).
* Numismatic Note: Beautiful depiction of the early Christian
monogram of Christ. You are bidding on the exact item pictured,
provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of
Authenticity.
The Chi Rho is one of the earliest
christograms used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the
first two letters in the Greek spelling of the word
Christ
(
Greek : "Χριστός" ), chi = ch and rho = r, in such a way to produce
the
monogram
☧. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to
mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the
combined
letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning "good."[1]
Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion
of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ. There is early
evidence of the Chi Rho symbol on Christian Rings of the third century.
The labarum (Greek:
λάβαρον) was a
vexillum (military standard) that displayed the "Chi-Rho"
symbol, formed from the first two
Greek letters of the word "Christ"
(Greek:
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) — Chi (χ)
and Rho (ρ).[1]
It was first used by the
Roman emperor
Constantine I. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from
the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize
crucifixion. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by Greek scribes to
mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the
combined letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning
"good."[2]
Flavius
Julius Constans (320-350) was a
Roman Emperor who ruled from 337 until his death. Constans was the
third and youngest son of
Constantine the Great and
Fausta,
Constantine's second wife.
On 25 December 333 Constantine elevated Constans to Caesar.
In 337 he succeeded his father, jointly with his older
brothers
Constantine II and
Constantius II, receiving
Italy,
Pannonia
and Africa as
his portion. Constantine II, who ruled over Gaul, Spain and Britain, attempted
to take advantage of his youth and inexperience by invading Italy in 340, but
Constans defeated Constantine at
Aquileia,
where the older brother died. The invasion was the effect of brotherly tensions
between the two emperors. Constantine II was, at first, Constans's guardian. As
Constans grew older, Constantine II never relinquished that position.
In 341-2, Constans led a successful campaign against the
Franks and in
the early months of 343 visited
Britain. The source for this visit,
Julius Firmicus Maternus, does not give a reason for this but the quick
movement and the danger involved in crossing the
channel in the dangerous winter months, suggests it was in response to a
military emergency of some kind, possibly to repel the
Picts and
Scots.
Regarding religion, Constans was tolerant of Judaism but
promulgated an edict banning pagan sacrifices in 341. He suppressed
Donatism in Africa and supported
Nicene orthodoxy against
Arianism,
which was championed by his brother Constantius the latter. Constans called the
Council of Sardica, which unsuccessfully tried to settle the conflict.
In 350, the general
Magnentius
declared himself emperor with the support of the troops on the
Rhine frontier,
and later the entire Western portion of the Roman Empire. Constans lacked any
support beyond his immediate household, and was forced to flee for his life.
Magnentius' supporters cornered him in a fortification in Helena, southwestern
Gaul, where he was
killed by Magnentius's assassins.
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