How to Identify the Constantine URBS ROMA Commemorative

What This Coin Is

This small bronze coin belongs to a commemorative series struck in the name of the personified city of Rome (Urbs Roma) starting in the late 320s AD and continuing for roughly two decades under Constantine I and his sons. It was struck alongside a companion series for Constantinople, marking the empire's dual capitals.

Obverse Design & Inscriptions

The obverse shows a helmeted, draped bust representing Roma, facing left, wearing an ornate crested helmet. The legend reads VRBS ROMA. There is no emperor's portrait on this coin, since it honors the city itself rather than a ruling individual.

Reverse Design & Inscriptions

The reverse depicts the she-wolf standing left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, a direct reference to Rome's founding legend. Above the wolf, two stars are usually visible. There is typically no legend around this scene apart from a mint mark in the exergue, since the design itself was considered self-explanatory.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

Struck in bronze, these coins are small, generally 15-18mm in diameter and weighing roughly 1.5-2.5 grams, consistent with the reduced-module folles of the later Constantinian period. The edge is plain and unadorned.

Mint Marks and Where to Find Them

The exergue beneath the she-wolf carries the mint signature, such as PLG (Lyon), SMANT (Antioch), SMHT (Heraclea), or similar combinations depending on where and when the piece was struck, often with an officina letter following.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

The nearly identical Constantinopolis commemorative uses a helmeted bust facing left as well, but its legend reads CONSTANTINOPOLIS and its reverse shows Victory standing on a ship's prow rather than the she-wolf. Since both series share size, metal, and general style, always check the obverse legend and reverse scene together rather than relying on the bust alone.

Judging Condition at a Glance

Well-preserved examples show a crisp helmet crest, clear wolf and twin figures, and readable stars above the scene. Because these coins are small and were struck on tight flans, look for full circular flans without flat spots or off-center striking, which affects both eye appeal and how much design detail survives.

Authenticity Red Flags

Watch for reproductions with mushy, indistinct wolf and twin details, an unnaturally smooth or shiny surface inconsistent with genuine ancient bronze patina, or a raised seam around the edge suggesting a cast rather than struck origin. Genuine pieces show the fine granularity and irregular toning typical of long-buried ancient bronze.