Commemorative Series, 330. AE (Orichalcum, 15 mm, 2.88 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis. RO-MA Draped bust of Roma to right, wearing crested Attic helmet and pearl necklace. Rev. P - R Virtus (or Roma) standing front, head to right, holding inverted spear in her right hand and placing her left on shield set on ground. Ramskold, Coins and medallions (2011), p. 139, fig. 7A-C. RIC 104 corr. ('Rome'). A well struck and unusually attractive example. Minor deposits and with small spots of corrosion, otherwise, extremely fine.


This issue was assigned in RIC VIII to the mint of Rome (RIC 104). However, as corrected by Ramskold (Coins and medallions (2011), p. 139-141), the mint is not Rome but Constantinopolis, and the figure on the reverse is not the emperor but either Dea Roma or Virtus, baring her right breast. These medalettes were all struck in brass (not bronze as stated in RIC VIII), and Ramskold followed Bendall (2002) in assigning them to 330 rather than 348, the date given in RIC VIII.