Constantine I, 307/310-337. Follis (Silvered bronze, 20 mm, 2.90 g, 6 h), Ticinum, late 326. CONSTAN-TINVS AVG Laureate head of Constantine I to right. Rev. D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG / T(palm)T Camp gate with two turrets and no doors; above, star. RIC 205. Rare and struck on a particularly large flan. Very minor weakness, otherwise, about extremely fine.


This rare piece belongs to the last coin emission of Ticinum. On his slow return journey after the disastrous vicennial celebrations in Rome, Constantine stopped in nearby Mediolanum, and this emission together with some silver donatives were struck in Ticinum, after which the mint there was closed. Many of the early dies from the newly opened mint of Constantinople show close similarities to the late dies from Ticinum, and it is probable that staff from the mint was transferred to Constantinople.