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Bronze AE2 of Constantius II With Soldier With Standard, 2 Captives at Feet Reverse

Constantius II reigned as augustus from A. D. 337 to 361, a period neatly spanning the middle of the Fourth Century A. D. The soldier emperor is seen here in a portrait on the reverse of the major bronze coin of the era, dressed in classic First Century Roman military garb yet holding the very much current style round or oval shield.

Constantius II appears to be posing bareheaded in this scene, whereas he would almost certainly be wearing some kind of helmet when actually engaged in battle. His paladumentum or military cloak covers a muscled guirass that makes him appear bare chested in this rendition. We are treated to a nice clear representation of the free hanging reinforced strips or lames that form the armor protecting the emperor's shoulders, which would come to be called epaulettes later in medieval times. At this late date when a very stiff stylistic convention dictated the way images and portraits would be represented on coins, we can compliment the artist who prepared the dies for conveying the sense of physical grace and power in the modeling of the emperor's well muscled legs. The toned calf muscle and leg tendons of a soldier - athlete inform us that Constantius II wished to be portrayed as a great physical specimen, always at the forefront of the battle inflicting heroic deeds of valor upon the hapless heads of those who would be foolish enough to set themselves up as enemies of the Roman "Republic."

In case the astute observer notices that Constantius' arms are at least as long and thick as his legs, and his hands are so large that they appear to be wearing baseball mitts, the author would like to reassure his readership that this emperor was not really a gorilla :-). In spite of its wonderful aspects or realism, artistic convention in Roman coin imagery dictated that important parts of the image be shown larger than other parts. The heroic figures depicted on the reverses of Roman coins were shown defending Roman society with the strength of their arms (body parts) which were often shown bearing arms (weapons). The allegorical figures also held her or his attributes in their hands and arms.


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