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Roman Empire AE Follis CONSTANTINE I THE GREAT AD 307–337 • “Eyes to Heaven” Portrait CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE • Victory Reverse • Constantinople Mint Featured Ancient Coin:
Roman Imperial AE follis of Constantine I the Great, featuring the distinctive upward-looking “eyes to heaven” portrait and the CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE reverse type. Coin Details Empire: Roman Empire Emperor: Constantine I the Great Date / Reign: AD 307–337 Denomination: AE Follis Mintmark: CONS — Constantinople Diameter: 19.6 mm Weight: 2.8 grams Reference: RIC VII 32 Constantine the Great AE Follis Eyes to Heaven Victory Reverse Constantinople Design
Obverse: Diademed head of Constantine I facing right, looking upward — the famous “eyes to heaven” style. Legend: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG.
Reverse: Victory seated left on a cippus, head turned right, holding a palm frond in each hand. To the left is a seated captive with head turned right, and a trophy stands nearby. Legend: CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE / T / CONS.
Comes with display case and an informational card
Historical Background
Constantine I, known as Constantine the Great, rose to power during the age of the Tetrarchy and became one of the most important rulers in Roman history. After years of civil conflict, he became sole ruler of the Roman Empire and reshaped the imperial world.
He is especially remembered for the Edict of Milan in AD 313, which granted religious toleration and helped end the persecution of Christians, and for convening the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Constantine also founded Constantinople, the new imperial capital that would remain central to the eastern Roman and Byzantine world for centuries.
This coin reflects that transformative period. The upward-looking imperial portrait presents Constantine in a more elevated and almost spiritual style, while the reverse imagery of Victory, captive, and trophy communicates triumph, authority, and the message of a new Constantinian order.
A historic AE follis from Constantine the Great — the emperor who changed the course of Rome, Christianity, and the ancient world. Historical Context Images
Images below are included for historical context only. The coin being sold is the exact coin shown in the listing photos.
Constantine statue in York Constantine mosaic, Hagia Sophia
Constantine the Great, Constantine I, Roman Empire, AE follis, eyes to heaven, upward gaze, CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE, Victory reverse, captive and trophy, Constantinople mint, CONS mintmark, RIC VII 32, ancient Roman coin, late Roman bronze, Roman Imperial coin, early Christian era, ancient numismatics.
Historical image credits: Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons through the Constantine the Great article. Historical images are for context only and are not photos of the coin being sold.
