The House of Constantine: A Collector's Primer

If you want a first ancient collection with a clear shape — a beginning, a cast of characters, and an achievable end — the House of Constantine is hard to beat. The dynasty ruled from roughly 293 to 363, spanning the conversion of the empire to Christianity and some of the most recognisable names in Roman history. Better still, it minted bronze in enormous quantities, so most of its rulers can be owned in attractive grade for the price of a good dinner.

The family, in brief

The story starts with Constantius I 'Chlorus', a member of Diocletian's Tetrarchy, and his son Constantine I 'the Great', who reunified the empire and founded Constantinople. Constantine's sons — Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans — divided the empire and then fought over it. The line closes with their cousin Julian II 'the Apostate', who briefly tried to restore the old gods. Around them orbit relatives and rivals who also struck coins: Crispus, Constantine's doomed eldest son; the usurper Magnentius; and the short-lived Caesars Gallus and Delmatius.

• Constantius I — the founder, a Tetrarch (d. 306).
• Constantine I — the Great; reunifier and Christian convert.
• Crispus & the Caesars — sons and heirs, several short-lived.
• Constantine II, Constantius II, Constans — the three ruling sons.
• Julian II — the last of the line, the 'Apostate'.

The coin types that define it

A handful of bronze reverse types carry this dynasty and are instantly familiar once you have seen them. GLORIA EXERCITVS ('glory of the army') shows soldiers flanking one or two standards — the most common type of the 330s. VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN pairs two Victories holding wreaths. The poignant commemorative issues for the founding of Constantinople (a helmeted Constantinopolis) and for the old capital (VRBS ROMA, with the she-wolf and twins) are perennial favourites. Later, the dramatic FEL TEMP REPARATIO 'fallen horseman' shows a soldier spearing a fallen enemy rider.

Why it makes a perfect first set

Three reasons. First, completeness is realistic: you can assemble a portrait of every major ruler of the house — a genuine dynastic set — without a rare-coin budget. Second, the coins are educational; collecting them teaches you mint marks (the letters in the exergue that name the mint and workshop, like SMANT or CONS) almost by accident. Third, the eye appeal is excellent — late bronzes with original silvering or a smooth green patina are beautiful objects. Buy the best strike and surface you can in each reign, learn to read the mint marks, and you will finish with a collection that tells a story.