Constantine the Great Follis

The follis of Constantine the Great documents the coinage of one of history's most consequential Roman emperors, whose reign reshaped both the religious and geographic center of gravity of the Roman world. Struck at a wide range of mints stretching from Britain to the eastern provinces, these bronze coins are relatively plentiful today, making Constantine's reign one of the most accessible entry points into late Roman coin collecting.

Beyond their availability, Constantinian folles are historically fascinating for how they reflect the empire's religious transition, moving from earlier pagan solar imagery to later types associated with his new capital, Constantinople, and standard military legends celebrating the army's loyalty. Collectors enjoy the series both for its affordability and for the way individual mint marks let enthusiasts assemble sets from across the late Roman world.

Constantine rose to power through a series of civil wars beginning in AD 306, eventually defeating his rival Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312, an event later associated with his conversion to Christianity, and going on to become sole emperor by 324. His reign fundamentally altered the Roman world through the Edict of Milan in 313, which granted toleration to Christianity, and through his founding of Constantinople in AD 330 as a new eastern capital.

The follis, a bronze denomination that had already been shrinking in size and weight since its introduction under Diocletian's reforms, continued to be reduced under Constantine, reflecting ongoing pressures on the later Roman economy. Early in his reign, types like "SOLI INVICTO COMITI," honoring the sun god Sol Invictus as his companion, remained common, illustrating the gradual and incomplete nature of the empire's shift toward Christianity even under a Christian-leaning emperor.

Later in his reign, types shifted toward military and dynastic themes, such as "GLORIA EXERCITVS" showing soldiers with standards, and special commemorative issues honoring the new cities of Constantinople and Rome ("CONSTANTINOPOLIS" and "VRBS ROMA" types) were struck to mark the new imperial order. Constantine died in AD 337, having reshaped the empire's religious and political landscape for centuries to come.

The obverse shows Constantine's portrait, generally laureate early in his reign and later sometimes shown looking upward in a stylized, more divine-inspired pose associated with his later coinage, with a Latin legend naming his imperial titles. Portraits can vary noticeably in style depending on the mint and period.

Common reverse types include "SOLI INVICTO COMITI," showing the radiate sun god Sol standing with a raised hand and globe; "GLORIA EXERCITVS," showing two soldiers flanking one or two military standards; and commemorative city types showing a helmeted personification of Constantinopolis or the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus for the Roma commemorative. Mintmarks, small letter combinations in the exergue, identify the specific mint city and workshop, such as TRP for Trier or SIS for Siscia, and are essential for precise attribution.

The coin's size shrank considerably over Constantine's long reign, from a moderately sized bronze early on to a notably smaller module by his later years, a trend collectors use alongside the reverse type and mintmark to roughly date a given example. Distinguishing a Constantine follis from those of his sons and successors, who continued similar types after his death, relies on carefully checking the obverse legend and portrait style against reference catalogs.

Constantine the Great folles are among the most affordable and widely available ancient Roman coins, with common types, especially the SOLI INVICTO COMITI and GLORIA EXERCITVS reverses, often available in decent, collectible grade for well under one hundred dollars. This affordability makes the series a popular starting point for new ancient coin collectors.

Rarer mints, unusual reverse types, or exceptionally well-preserved, sharply struck examples with attractive patina can command meaningfully higher prices, sometimes reaching into the hundreds of dollars or more for standout pieces. As with all ancient bronze, surface preservation, strike sharpness, and an appealing, even patina significantly influence desirability and price among specialists.