Constantine III, 407-411. Siliqua (Silver, 17 mm, 1.16 g, 6 h), Treveri, 408-411. D N CONSTAN-TINVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine III to right. Rev. VICTORI-A AAVGGG / TRMS Roma seated left on cuirass and throne, holding Victory in her right hand and inverted spear in her left. Lafaurie 11. RIC 1533. RSC 4A. Rare. Beautifully toned and well struck on magnificent metal, an exceptional piece. Nearly extremely fine.




The usurpation of Constantine III is intricately tied to the so-called Crossing of the Rhine on 31 December 406 (or possibly 405). This event marked a large-scale invasion of Roman Gaul by barbarian groups, which led to the destruction of numerous limitanei garrisons along the frontier and the collapse of civic order in the hinterland. Amidst the ensuing chaos, the remaining Roman troops in Britain proclaimed their own Augustus, Flavius Claudius Constantinus, in the hope that he would defend the neglected and endangered province - something the imperial court in Ravenna had clearly failed to do.

Constantine III, as he is known today, was reportedly a common soldier of humble origins. However, this characterization likely stems from later hostile sources, and it has been suggested that he may, in fact, have held the prestigious rank of comes britanniarum, the senior commander of the province. Regardless of his background, Constantine’s ambitions extended far beyond Britain. In 408, he crossed into Gaul, taking with him the province’s last remaining comitatenses (field troops) and leaving behind only the locally recruited limitanei on the Vallum Hadriani and the Saxon Shore, who were disinclined to join a distant civil war.

Initially, Constantine achieved significant successes. He secured the Rhine frontier and captured the key cities of Lugdunum and Arelate, making the latter his capital in May 408. His fortunes shifted in 410 when he launched an invasion of Italy, a bold move that ultimately failed, forcing him to retreat to Arelate. By 411, Constantine’s position had crumbled under the pressure of internal rebellions. He surrendered to Flavius Constantius, the future emperor Constantius III, and was executed shortly thereafter.