Commemorative Series, 330. 1/3 Siliqua (Silver, 11 mm, 0.89 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis, struck under Constantine I. Draped bust of Roma to right, wearing crested Attic helmet and pearl necklace; all within pelleted circle. Rev. Large P within pelleted circle. Bendall, Anonymous silver, RN 158 (2002), Type 2. Cohen VII, p. 327, 3. Ramskold, Coins and medallions (2011), p. 143, fig. 10A-C. RIC -. RSC -. Darkly toned. Some horn silver and minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, very fine.


First described by Sabatier in 1847, these small silver medalettes may be largesse coins, thrown to the public on a festive occasion. A wide variety of types are known, the earliest apparently from the early fourth century CE. Ramskold, Coins and medallions (2011) described the two types 'Roma / P' and 'Constantinopolis / K' as parts of a series of emissions pairing Rome and Constantinople, struck for the inauguration of Constantinople in 330.