Constantius II Silver Siliqua, RIC VIII Constantinople 104

Monetary Context and Denominational System

The fourth century AD witnessed profound transformations in the Roman silver coinage. Following the monetary reforms of Diocletian and Constantine I, the silver argenteus was gradually replaced by new silver denominations, most prominently the siliqua and its fractional and multiple counterparts. By the joint and sole reigns of the sons of Constantine, the siliqua had emerged as the standard silver unit of the empire, complementing the premier gold solidus and the fluctuating base-metal billon issues. Struck theoretically at 1/144th or 1/192th of a Roman pound during different phases of fourth-century reform, the siliqua under Constantius II generally adhered to a reduced weight standard centered around 2.0 to 2.2 grams. In the broader economic framework, silver issues of this period were struck in smaller aggregate volumes than either gold solidi or base-metal fractions, reserving their primary use for state distributions, donatives to legions and civil dignitaries, elite commerce, and imperial tax settlements. RIC VIII Constantinople 104 occupies an essential place within this system, representing the primary eastern silver output struck during the pivotal interval between the defeat of Magnentius at the Battle of Mursa Major in AD 351 and the formal elevation of Julian as Caesar in AD 355.

Production and Mint Organization

During the mid-fourth century, Constantinople operated as a leading administrative and monetary hub of the Roman Empire, equipped with multiple active workshops or officinae. The production of precious-metal coinage at Constantinople was closely supervised by imperial finance officials belonging to the department of the comes sacrarum largitionum. Silver siliquae catalogued under RIC VIII Constantinople 104 were struck utilizing refined silver flans carefully adjusted to weight standards, though preserved specimens exhibit typical contemporary variance in both module and strike. The mint of Constantinople struck this votive series across multiple numbered workshops, typically indicated by Greek alphabetic numerals or secondary mintmarks in the exergue beneath the primary reverse wreath design. Blanks were hot-struck between engraved iron or bronze dies, with obverse portrait dies displaying the sophisticated court style characteristic of the capital's master engravers. The meticulous cutting of the letters within the exergual marks and the uniform styling of the surrounding wreath emphasize the high level of craft control maintained at Constantinople relative to peripheral mint facilities.

Obverse Design and Iconography

The obverse of RIC VIII Constantinople 104 presents the right-facing profile bust of Constantius II. In accordance with fourth-century dynastic convention, the emperor is depicted with clean-shaven features, stylistically idealized facial planes, and prominent, slightly upturned eyes that convey sovereign majesty. He wears the imperial pearl diadem, an emblem firmly instituted by Constantine I to signify supreme autocratic rule, displacing the older laurel wreaths of the Principate. The drapery covers a military cuirass, symbolizing the emperor's perpetual role as supreme commander of the Roman legions and protector of the state. The bust is systematically framed by the circumscription legend, broken regularly by the crest of the head. Die cutters at Constantinople consistently rendered the curls of hair and the double string of pearls with crisp detail, reflecting imperial court taste in the newly established capital.

Reverse Design and Votive Imagery

The reverse iconography of RIC VIII Constantinople 104 is defined by anepigraphic, text-based religious and political messaging centered on imperial vows. Enclosed completely within an ornate laurel wreath is the four-line inscription: VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX. The laurel wreath, secured at the base or apex with a jewel, medallion, or decorative ribbon tie, embodies victory, divine blessing, and stability. Below the wreath, within the exergual zone, sits the mint signature of Constantinople, distinguishing the coin from similar votive issues struck simultaneously at Sirmium, Antioch, and Rome. The votive formula itself represents the solemn celebration of the tricennalia (thirty years of rule) and the prayers for the quadrennial vows (forty years). Constantius II celebrated his tricennalia around AD 353, having been elevated to the rank of Caesar in AD 324. By utilizing a compact, epigraphic reverse rather than a complex figurative narrative, the issue delivered a clear, unassailable message of sustained legitimacy and imperial continuity.

Inscriptions and Epigraphy

The obverse legend on RIC VIII Constantinople 104 reads D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, broken across the upper field into two segments. This standard imperial formula expands epigraphically to 'Dominus Noster Constantius Pius Felix Augustus', translating to 'Our Lord Constantius, Pious and Happy Augustus'. The title Dominus Noster explicitly manifests the dominant autocratic ideology of the late Roman Dominate. On the reverse, the inscription VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX represents the vow formula: 'Votis tricesimis, multis quadragesimis' ('For the vows of thirty years, and more for forty years'). In the exergue, the mint signature displays the abbreviation for Constantinople, customarily formatted with the city prefix and workshop letters, such as C dot followed by Greek numeral indicators or officina letters ending in an abbreviation of the mint name (such as CONSP). The lettering is rendered in late Roman capital script, characterized by sharp serifs, narrow vertical proportions, and strict linear spacing.

Typology and Chronological Classification

Catalogued in Roman Imperial Coinage Volume VIII as Constantinople 104, this siliqua belongs to a broad chronological series struck between AD 351 and 355. This window spans the period immediately following Constantius II's recovery of the western provinces from the usurper Magnentius and concludes shortly before the elevation of Julian as Caesar in late AD 355, after which imperial legends and co-regency types expanded. Numismatists distinguish RIC 104 from adjacent issues by its specific combination of obverse bust style, exergual mark variants, and exact vow counts. While earlier issues recorded vota for twenty years (VOTIS XX MVLTIS XXX), the emergence of the VOTIS XXX series reflects the attainment of Constantius II's imperial milestones achieved in the early 350s. Multiple minor die and exergual mark variations are recognized within RIC 104, reflecting successive production runs across active officinae during this multi-year phase.

Circulation, Hoards, and Archaeological Context

Although struck at the imperial capital in the East, siliquae of RIC VIII Constantinople 104 circulated extensively across both eastern and western halves of the Roman world. The high intrinsic purity of fourth-century Roman silver rendered these coins widely acceptable for cross-regional trade, military remuneration, and private hoarding. Numerous fourth- and fifth-century coin hoards discovered throughout the Balkans, the Levant, Asia Minor, and Roman Britain contain examples of Constantius II's votive siliquae. In western frontier regions, such as Roman Britain, silver siliquae frequently remained in use for decades after their emission, sometimes undergoing extensive clipping in the late fourth and early fifth centuries to align with declining silver weight standards. The durability of this votive type in circulation underscores the monetary vitality of Constantinople's precious-metal output during the mid-fourth century.

References

1. Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy c. 300-1450. pp. 466-480
2. The Imperial Silver Coinage of AD 337-361. pp. 83-104
3. Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE): RIC VIII Constantinople 104. RIC VIII Constantinople 104
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. VIII: The Family of Constantine I, A.D. 337-364. pp. 456-457, no. 104