Constantine II, as Caesar, 316-337. Follis (Silvered bronze, 19 mm, 3.21 g, 6 h), a contemporary imitation of an issue from Ticinum, irregular mint, after 326. CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine II to left. Rev. D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG / P(palm)T Campgate with no doors and two turrets; above, star. Cf. RIC 207 (for possible prototype). Very light doubling on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


This coin is a hybrid between a Constantine Caesar obverse and a Constantine I reverse, apparently from the last emission of the mint of Ticinum in 326. It could be the result of an error in die selection for the day's work. However, although the reverse is similar to the many known examples of this emission for Constantine I (RIC 205), the obverse has the unmistakable style of Arelate. A comparison with over 100 obverses of coins of Constantine Caesar from Arelate (from 324 and 328) reveals that on this coin, the laurel wreath begins opposite the letter N, which is never found on official coins from that mint. The only viable conclusion is that this coin is an extremely well made unofficial copy.