Caesar, A.D. 306-307/9
Augustus A.D. 307/9-337
(Bronze) AE3
Constantinople mint, A.D. 327-328
Obv: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG
Rev: LIBERT-A-S PVBLICA - Victory on galley, holding wreath in both hands
CONS in exergue; E in left field
RIC 25
19mm, 2.6g
Of all Rome’s emperors, Constantine I, known today as Constantine the Great, probably had the greatest impact on Western civilization. He converted to Christianity and made it the favored religion of the empire, ending centuries of persecution of Christians and allowing the Catholic Church to become a major political influence. His decision to move the capital of the Empire east to Byzantium (renamed Constantinople) allowed the Empire to continue for another 1,000 years after the collapse of Rome in the late 5th century.
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