Constantine I, 307/310-337. Siliqua (Silver, 19 mm, 2.33 g, 7 h), celebrating the 1000th anniversary of Byzantium. Constantinopolis, 333-334. Laurel-and-rosette-diademed head of Constantine I to right. Rev. CONSTANT-INVS AVG / CONSA Victory advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left; in field to left, M. Ramskold, Silver emissions (2018), p. 152, fig. 2A (this coin, emission 5). RIC VII Addenda p. 719, 131A. RSC 97m. Of the highest rarity, one of only two known examples from this officina. Somewhat rough and with minor scratches on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.




This extremely rare piece belongs to emission 5 of Ramskold, Silver emissions (2018) - the so-called Byzantion Millennium emission. Ramskold proposed that this emission was struck to celebrate the 1,000 year anniversary of the founding of Byzantium. According to the date given by Herodotos, the millennium would take place in 333. Based on internal evidence such as hairstyle, the emission can be independently dated to circa 333 as well. Ramskold suggested that the M in the reverse field is the Roman numeral for 1,000, marking the coins as a millennial celebration emission.

Curiously, on this coin, the officina letter in the exergue resembles an H. However, as there is not a single other silver coin known from officina H in Constantinopolis from the reign of Constantine, it is more probable that the letter is a poorly crafted A.