Festival of Isis and related issues. Constantine II, 337-340. AE (Bronze, 14 mm, 2.00 g, 12 h), Rome, 337-340. VIC CONSTANTINVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine II to right. Rev. VICTORIA A-VG Victory advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. Alföldi -. Cohen -. RIC -, cf. 56 (differing bust type). Extremely rare, one of only four known examples. Good very fine.


This and lots 3245-3249 below are identified here for the first time as Festival of Isis tokens. RIC VIII 56 was listed as a unique specimen needing confirmation, with the bust described as cuirassed. The present specimen, one of four known (two offered at this auction), shows a laureate and cuirassed bust but may be identical. This type for Constantine II is connected to similar examples for Constantius II and Constans. The latter differ in having 'D N' in the obverse legend, following the regular pattern for coinage in the period 337-340. They also have the plural 'AVGG' on the reverse, whereas Constantine II examples have a singular 'AVG'. A total of nine or ten examples are known from this emission, six of which are in the Ramskold Collection. The 'VOTA PVBLICA' type RIC VIII 475 (and others) most probably belongs to this group.