Constantine I, 307/310-337. AE (Bronze, 17 mm, 1.74 g), Thessalonica, 317-320. CONSTAN-TINVS AVG Laureate and cuirassed bust of Constantine I to right. Rev. Eight-rayed star. RIC -. Unpublished and unique, and of great historical importance. Somewhat smoothed and the hair slightly strengthened, otherwise, about extremely fine.




This remarkable and important coin is one of the greatest rarities known from the reign of Constantine I. It combines the bust and legend of Constantine I with an eight-rayed star on the reverse. There is a clear relation with other star-bearing types such as the silver and bronze star-and-wreath, the 'C / A V / O' and the 'O / C S / C' types. The bust belongs to the mint of Thessalonica, and the closest parallels in the regular coinage are found in RIC 59 (Constantine I) and 155 (Crispus), dated to 319 and 326, respectively. Furthermore, the mint accords with the 'C / A V / O' examples carrying the mint mark 'TSD'. This mint mark (with dots) was used until 320, and the date of the Constantine/star type can thus be narrowed down to 317-320, although the occasion for its production remains unknown.