[ 5432]
VETRANIO- Roman Emperor -350 A.D.
Æ Centenionalis (23mm, 5.65 gm.). Siscia, 19 January-25 December A.D. 350. SUPERB! Perfect centering! Razor sharp details, a lot of original silvering.
References: RIC VIII 286; LRBC 1173.
D N VETRANIO P F AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; A behind.
HOC SIG-NO VICTOR ERIS, Vetranio standing facing, head left, holding banner with Chi-Rho and spear; to right, crowning Victory standing left and holding palm frond; A//•ΔSIS•.
HOC SIGNO VICTOR ERIS ('by this sign you shall conquer'), emperor standing left, holding labarum with Chi-Rho&spear; to the right stands Victory, crowning him with wreath&holding palm branch; A in left field, dot GSIS star. This is the only coin type to specifically refer to Constantine the Great's vision of 310 and dream of 312 that led him to accept Christianity. This coin was struck under Vetranio in the name of Constantinus II during the turbulent period of Magnentius revolt in 350 AD. The reverse legend ('by this sign you shall conquer') refers to the divinely inspired vision of Constantine the Great before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, and thus alludes to Vetranio's loyalty to the house of Constantine. Vetranio eventually handed over his legions to Constantius II at Naissus, afterward withdrawing into an honorable retirement at Prusa in Bithynia.
HOC. SIGNO. VICTOR ERIS - Victory crowing the emperor, who stands in military dress, holding in his right hand a labarum, on which appears the monogram of Christ, and in his left a spear. The monogram of Christ was introduced by order Constantine the Great on a standard, when setting out on his campaign against Maxentius. This standard being carried into the middle of the ranks, where the danger appeared the greatest, and invariably bringing Victory with it, according to standard alone; and hence is gathered the sense of the legend, HOC SIGNO VICTORY ERIS, which, in all probability, was inscribed upon the actual standard.
![]() |
Posted by:
anonymous 2015-08-18 |