The Story Behind Constantine II AE4 – GLORIA EXERCITVS
A Moment of Transition in Rome (AD 337–340)
It’s the year 337 AD. The mighty Constantine the Great has passed, and the Roman Empire—once united under his powerful rule—is divided among his three sons. From the bustling imperial mints of the eastern provinces comes your coin: an AE4 bronze, modest in size but rich in symbolism. It bears the youthful face of Constantine II, now declared Augustus, flanked by the bold inscription CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG.
 
The reverse is a message of imperial strength: GLORIA EXERCITVS—"Glory of the Army." Two Roman soldiers stand tall, each with spear and shield, separated by a single standard marked with a distinct “C.” This was no ordinary currency—it was propaganda struck in bronze, a declaration of military unity and dynastic legitimacy in a fragile empire.
 
The Son of an Emperor
Born in 316 AD, Constantine II was the eldest son of Constantine the Great. Raised amid courtly privilege and military campaign, he was made Caesar as a child and groomed for rule. Upon his father’s death, he inherited the western provinces—Gaul, Hispania, and Britannia—and was thrust into a tense co-reign with his brothers, Constantius II and Constans. His reign, though brief, reflected the precarious balancing act of a family dynasty walking the line between cooperation and civil war.
 
Circulation—Soldiers, Forts & Provinces
Fresh from the mint, your coin would have entered circulation through a military payroll, likely finding its way into the hands of a legionary stationed along the northern frontiers or guarding a city gate in the western provinces. Perhaps it was used to purchase bread, oil, or a length of linen at a provincial market—or passed from soldier to smith, from merchant to midwife.
 
As it traveled, the coin’s bronze surface gradually lost its sheen. It rubbed against other coins in worn leather pouches, scraped across stone counters, and slowly picked up the patina of age. But Constantine II’s visage and the soldiers on the reverse would remain clearly visible for years—a constant reminder of Rome’s might and imperial lineage.
 
A Fateful Divide and a Buried Past
In 340 AD, Constantine II marched on Italy to claim more territory from his younger brother Constans. The attempt ended in disaster—he was ambushed and killed near Aquileia. His territories were absorbed, his name condemned by some, mourned by others. But the coins struck in his honor, like yours, continued to circulate—silent emissaries of a young emperor whose ambitions were cut short.
 
Eventually, this coin was lost to time. Perhaps it slipped through floorboards in a wooden barracks, was buried during a hurried retreat, or offered in ritual alongside others. For more than a millennium, it slept beneath layers of soil and stone.
 
Rediscovered in Modern Times
Centuries later, this coin was uncovered by a metal detectorist in the European countryside—its once-bright surface dulled by time, but its design still clear. The faint inscription, the proud standard, and the sharp lines of the emperor’s bust were carefully revealed through museum-grade conservation techniques. Cleaned, stabilized, and preserved with Renaissance Wax, this ancient coin was brought back from obscurity.
 
A Tangible Piece of Rome’s Imperial Story
Now professionally mounted and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and a historical dossier, your coin has journeyed across empires and eras to reach your hands. It is more than a relic—it is a witness to the turbulent years of dynastic struggle, Roman military prestige, and the waning days of unity before the West fell into decline.
 
From battlefield to market, from emperor’s decree to buried treasure—this is the story of your Constantine II coin.
 
Recovered Relics – Where History Lives.