Constantine I, 307/310-337. Follis (Bronze, 18 mm, 2.24 g, 12 h), Thessalonica, April 326. Laureate head of Constantine I to right. Rev. CONSTAN/TINVS / AVG / S[M]TSA in four lines; above, laurel wreath. RIC 141. Extremely rare, one of five examples in private hands. Corroded and with cleaning scratches, otherwise, about very fine.


The dynastic emission from Thessalonica was described by Ramskold (Constantine's vicennalia (2013), p. 421, fig. 4) based on 12 specimens. Since then, the number has increased to 20 examples, of which 15 are in private hands, ten of which are in the Ramskold Collection. The emission is unique by including examples lacking an officina letter. All marked specimens are from officina A. No unmarked pieces were known to Bruun so they are absent in RIC VII, but such pieces are now known for both Constantine I and Crispus, and were probably struck for Constantine Caesar as well. The significance of the unmarked pieces is unknown, but it is most probable that there was only one emission, produced for Constantine's visit in April 326. It is worth noting that another emission from Thessalonica also includes both marked and unmarked pieces (RIC VII 48-51).