Helena, Augusta, 324-328/30. Follis (Bronze, 13 mm, 0.75 g, 5 h), a contemporary imitation of an issue from Treveri (?). Irregular mint, after 337. ELENA F V Diademed and draped bust of Helena to right. Rev. PAX• BONA / •T• Pax standing front, head to left, holding branch in her right hand. Cf. RIC 63 (for possible prototype). Extremely rare. Minor traces of corrosion and with some weakness on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.



This tiny contemporary imitation is exceptionally rare and intriguing. The reverse legend reads as PAX BONA, but it seems highly unlikely that this was intentional. Originally based on PAX PVBLICA, it appears more probable that PAX BONA is a misinterpretation. The mint mark •T•, indicating Ticinum, was utilized for a gold issue in 316. Interestingly, this coin was reportedly discovered in the UK.