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                                Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 2087. Closing Date: Sep 25, 
                                2002. HELENA, mother of Constantine I. BID 
                                Estimate $500  

                              HELENA, mother of Constantine I. Æ Follis (3.56 
                              gm). Struck 318-319 AD. Thessalonica mint. Draped 
                              bust right / Eight-pointed star in laurel wreath. 
                              RIC VII 50; LRBC 821. EF, dark green patina, some 
                              light roughness. ($500)
                              The coinage of Helena as Augusta commenced with 
                              her elevation to full imperial status in 324 and 
                              continued until her death five years later. 
                              Preceding these issues, however, was a remarkable 
                              series struck circa 318 AD at the Thessalonica 
                              mint on which both Helena and her daughter-in-law 
                              Fausta are accorded the lesser title of 
                              Nobilissima Femina (N F). Both ladies had borne 
                              this rank for some considerable time, Helena since 
                              her son's elevation to imperial status in 306, 
                              Fausta since her marriage to Constantine in March 
                              of the following year. The significance of the 
                              anepigraphic reverse with star within wreath 
                              remains unexplained, though presumably it contains 
                              some reference to divine providence and destiny.





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Lot sold for  $500, plus buyers fees.

Used by permission of Classical Numismatic Group, www.cngcoins.com.