Item number: A2812

Year: AD 337-361

Material: Bronze

Size: 17.8 x 17.3 x 1.2 mm

Weight: 2.2 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2020

This is a Numus bronze coin minted between AD 337 and AD 361 during the reign of Constantius II, Roman Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. The term numus in Latin means coin, and in the Roman period, it was generally used to refer to coins primarily made of bronze.

The coin is in a relatively poor state of preservation, though the details remain faintly discernible. The obverse depicts a right-facing bust of Constantius II, with wide, open eyes, wearing a pearl-diademed crown, a cloak, and cuirass. The surrounding circular Latin inscription reads “D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG,” meaning “Our Lord, Pious and Fortunate Augustus Constantius.”

The reverse of the coin features a design relatively uncommon in Roman numismatic history, directly depicting a scene of slaughter. Although the surface of the coin has been heavily worn, it remains possible to discern a fully armed Roman soldier on the right, leaping forward while holding a shield in one hand and a spear in the other, thrusting at a barbarian warrior who has fallen from his horse and turns back to face his attacker. The surrounding circular Latin inscription reads “FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO,” meaning “the restoration of the happy times.”

Constantius II was the son of Constantine the Great. During his father’s reign, he served as Caesar (junior emperor) alongside his brothers and other relatives, assisting in the administration of the empire. In AD 337, following the death of his father, Constantius II was elevated to the rank of Augustus (emperor) and initiated a bloody purge to eliminate other potential claimants to the throne. In addition to internal strife, the Roman Empire under Constantius II’s leadership was frequently engaged in military conflicts along its borders, particularly against Germanic tribes and the Sasanian Empire.

物件編號: A2812

年代: 公元 337-361 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 17.8 x 17.3 x 1.2 mm

重量: 2.2 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2020

這是一枚公元337至361年間，羅馬皇帝君士坦提烏斯二世鑄造的努米銅幣。「努米」在拉丁文的意思是「硬幣」，於羅馬時代是指稱以銅為主要原料的硬幣。

錢幣的保存狀況不甚良好，但是尚能勉強辨識細節。錢幣正面是睜大眼睛，頭上戴著珍珠王冠，背上披有披風並身著胸甲，面朝右側的君士坦提烏斯二世肖像。錢幣周圍的環形拉丁銘文「D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG」意思是「我們的君主，虔誠而幸運的奧古斯都君士坦提烏斯」。

錢幣背面的圖案則是羅馬歷史上，較為罕見直接表現出殺戮場景的錢幣設計。雖然錢幣表面早已嚴重磨蝕，但尚能辨識出右側有一名全副武裝，一手持著盾牌一手拿著長矛一躍而起，戳向左側從馬背上摔下來回頭相望的蠻族士兵。錢幣周圍的環形銘文「FEL TEMP RE-PARATIO」意思是「復興時代的繁榮」。

君士坦提烏斯二世是君士坦丁大帝的兒子，於父皇在位期間跟其餘手足和親戚共同擔任輔佐的凱撒(副皇帝)一職。公元337年，父親駕崩後成為奧古斯都(皇帝) 的君士坦提烏斯二世展開血腥的清洗，殺害其他潛在的王位競爭對手。除此之外，羅馬帝國在君士坦提烏斯二世的領導下，也不斷在邊界和日耳曼蠻族和薩珊王朝發生衝突。