Constantine I, 307/310-337. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.44 g, 12 h), Thessalonica, late 324. Diademed head of Constantine I to right, with eyes raised to heaven. Rev. CONSTANTINVS AVG / SMTSΓ Victory seated left on throne, holding Victory in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left; below throne, shield. Antike Kunst (1967), pl. 52, 515 (this coin). Depeyrot 10/1. RIC 131. A beautiful piece with a very attractive anepigraphic obverse. A few light marks and with light deposits on the reverse, and with some roughness on the edge, otherwise, good extremely fine.


The striking of this beautiful solidus occurred right after Constantine's second (and final) victory against Licinius I in the Battle of Chrysopolis on 18 September 325, which made him the sole ruler of the empire. This was the first time Constantine appeared with a Hellenistic-style diadem rather than a laurel wreath, a dramatic change in portraiture that is further emphasized by the striking absence of an obverse legend and the fact that the head and eyes of the emperor are raised upwards, towards the divine.