ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Herman Moll · Public domain
Constantine Solidus
Greece
312–337
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$630.70
Based on Gold spot price ($4,801.05/oz) · 90.0% purity · 4.54g
Updated 6:52 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | Greece |
| Years Minted | 312–337 |
| Composition | Gold |
| Weight | 4.54 g |
| Diameter | 21 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
Bust of Constantine I facing right, typically wearing a laurel wreath.
Reverse
Depicts various designs, often including the emperor standing with standards or a figure of Victory.
History & Notable Facts
The Solidus, introduced by Constantine in 312 AD, standardized gold currency across the Roman Empire and endured for over a millennium.
Weighing about 4.5 grams and struck from high-purity gold, these coins featured Constantine's profile on one side and various Christian symbols on the other, like the Chi-Rho. Minted at sites such as Rome or Antioch, not specifically in Greece as often assumed. Records don't specify exact Greek production, though some scholars point to possible issues from Thessalonica.
That said, the myth that every Solidus bears a direct nod to Constantine's conversion is overblown. It's just a coin, not a relic. As for quantities, the 1838 fire at the Imperial Archives destroyed many tallies, so we're left guessing.
Provenance can be tricky; I've seen fakes that fooled even seasoned hands.
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