Constantine the Great
NGC Graded Choice Very Fine | Constantinople Mint | Circa 337 AD

This is a remarkable and historically significant bronze nummus of Emperor Constantine I, struck in Constantinople between 337 and 340 AD. Graded Choice Very Fine by NGC Ancients, this AE3 coin features a rare and powerful bust type — Constantine with his eyes lifted to heaven — a distinct symbol of his Christian faith and divine vision.

Coin Details:

• Emperor: Constantine I (“The Great”)

• Date: Circa 337–340 AD

• Mint: Constantinople

• Denomination: AE3

• Obverse: Bust of Constantine facing right, rosette-diademed, eyes raised to heaven

• Reverse: Victory seated left holding palm branches, captive at feet, mintmark CONS

• Reference: RIC Volume VI, 32

• Certified by NGC Ancients: Choice Very Fine (VF)

Constantine I was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, transforming the empire and paving the way for the Christianization of Europe. The “eyes to heaven” portrait style represents his break from classical Roman portraiture and symbolizes a ruler under divine guidance.

This coin was struck in Constantinople, the imperial city he founded — now modern-day Istanbul — and is a tangible link to a pivotal era in both Roman and religious history.

The Legacy of Constantine the Great

Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, was one of the most influential emperors in Roman history. Born around 272 AD, he rose to power during one of the empire’s most unstable periods—marked by civil wars, rival emperors, and religious conflict. Against this backdrop, Constantine reshaped the Roman world.

He came to prominence after the death of his father, Constantius Chlorus, in 306 AD. Though initially one of several claimants to the throne, Constantine quickly asserted his authority, ultimately emerging as sole emperor by 324 AD. His rule would fundamentally transform both the Roman Empire and the religious landscape of Europe.

One of the defining moments of his life came in 312 AD, on the eve of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, just outside Rome. According to sources like Eusebius and Lactantius, Constantine saw a divine sign in the sky—reportedly a cross of light—and the words, “In this sign, conquer.” Interpreting this as a message from the Christian God, Constantine ordered his soldiers to place a Christian symbol on their shields. He went on to defeat his rival Maxentius and credited the victory to the Christian faith.

Following this, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, alongside his co-emperor Licinius. This groundbreaking decree legalized Christianity throughout the empire and ended the brutal persecutions of Christians that had persisted for centuries.

But Constantine didn’t merely tolerate Christianity—he embraced and promoted it. He provided state support for church construction, granted privileges to Christian clergy, and played a key role in defining Christian orthodoxy. In 325 AD, he convened the First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council of Christian bishops, which produced the Nicene Creed—a foundational statement of Christian belief still in use today.

In 330 AD, Constantine founded a new capital city: Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). Strategically located and richly adorned, it would become the political and cultural heart of the Eastern Roman Empire for over a thousand years.

Constantine was baptized shortly before his death in 337 AD—a common practice at the time—and died as a Christian emperor. Though he never made Christianity the official state religion, his support for the faith paved the way for it to become dominant in the Roman world and beyond.

Coins from Constantine’s reign often reflect this shift—none more so than the rare and symbolic “Eyes to Heaven” portrait. This stylized bust, showing the emperor gazing upward, reflects the Christian idea of divine guidance and marks a profound departure from traditional Roman realism in imperial imagery. It’s not just a numismatic detail—it’s a window into the spiritual transformation of an empire.