Fausta, Augusta, 324-326. Follis (Bronze, 17 mm, 2.04 g, 6 h), celebrating Constantine I's vicennalia, Nicomedia, July 325. Draped bust of Fausta to right. Rev. FAV/STA / AVG / SMNΓ in four lines; above, star. RIC -. Apparently unique and of great historical interest. Smoothed and with minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, about very fine.


This is one of the most remarkable coins in the Ramskold collection. It was unknown to him when he described the dynastic emissions (Ramskold, Constantine’s vicennalia [2013]), but is of the utmost importance for dating and understanding them. Until now, it was thought that only Antioch struck dynastic bronzes for the imperial ladies, but this specimen shows that at least Nicomedia did so too. The Nicomedia emission was most probably struck for the initial vicennial celebrations in Nicomedia, beginning on 25 July 325.

This piece has a star over the legend on the reverse. On the Fausta and Helena dynastic bronzes from Antioch there is a star and moon over the ladies' names, whereas the Caesars only have a star. An ongoing study by Ramskold (pers. comm.) indicates that the second Antioch dynastic emission, to which all examples of the imperial women belong, was struck for the final vicennial celebrations in July 326, that is, a year after the Nicomedia emission. Between these two series there are emissions from seven mints along Constantine's vicennial route. None of these are known to include an imperial lady.