🏛️ AE3/4 Bi Nummus – Constantine II as Caesar
🪙 Bronze Nummus | 🧾 NGC Ancients AU | 📅 AD 337–340 | 🗺️ Epfig Hoard Find
🔐 Certification #: 2139564-149
 
👑 The Son of an Emperor, Lost to Ambition
This AE3/4 Bi Nummus was minted during the brief and fateful reign of Constantine II, the eldest son of Constantine the Great. Issued while he was still styled Caesar, this coin captures the ambitions, tensions, and legacy of an emperor’s son navigating the fragile unity of a divided empire.
 
After his father’s death in AD 337, Constantine II took control of the western provinces, including Gaul, Britannia, and Hispania. His reign was short-lived: tensions with his brother Constans escalated, and in AD 340, Constantine II was ambushed and killed during a military campaign near Aquileia.
 
🗡️ A Coin of Transition: Pagan to Christian Rome
By Constantine II’s time, the Roman Empire had begun its official transition to Christian symbolism. While earlier coins featured gods, eagles, and temples, the coinage of the Constantinian dynasty incorporated Chi-Rho motifs, soldiers bearing Christian standards, and inscriptions reflecting divine favor.
 
This coin is part of that transformation—bridging Rome’s imperial past with its Christian future.
 
🧾 Coin Specifications
👤 Ruler: Constantine II (as Caesar)
🪙 Type: AE3/4 (Bi Nummus) – Bronze
📆 Date: AD 337–340
🔍 Grade: About Uncirculated (AU)
🏛️ Certified By: NGC Ancients Certification #: 2139564-149
🗺️ Provenance: From the Epfig Hoard, France
 
✅ Why Add This Coin to Your Collection?
🔐 NGC Certified – About Uncirculated (AU) – Superior strike and preservation
🧠 Historical Relevance – Issued during a critical reshaping of the Roman Empire
📍 Epfig Hoard Origin – A renowned and well-documented hoard find
🪙 Rare Caesar Issue – Highlights a ruler cut down before he became full Augustus
 
🗺️ The Epfig Hoard: A Treasure of the Late Roman Empire
📍Epfig, a commune in the Alsace region of eastern France, near the ancient Roman roads that once connected Gaul with the Germanic frontier.
 
📦 Hoard Details:
Discovered: ~1980s (exact date may vary by source)
Composition: Primarily small bronze coins (AE3 and AE4 types), often referred to as "nummi"
Dating: Coins minted between AD 330 and AD 348, though hoard pieces span a broader timeframe (often AD 310–340)
Notable Rulers Included:
Constantine the Great
Constantine II
Constantius II
Crispus
Licinius
Other late Tetrarchic figures
 
🛡️ Historical Context:
The Epfig Hoard likely represents a savings cache or military pay hidden during a time of political uncertainty or frontier unrest. The early 4th century was marked by internal divisions, dynastic conflicts between Constantine’s sons, and pressure from Germanic tribes across the Rhine.
 
Given its location and dating, the hoard may have been buried during or shortly after the conflicts among Constantine’s heirs, especially around the death of Constantine II in AD 340 or military activity in the Gallic provinces.
 
Coins of Constantine II are sought after for their crisp portraits, short circulation, and dramatic historical context. This AU-certified example from the Epfig Hoard is an excellent addition for collectors of the Constantinian dynasty, hoard finds, or transitional Roman history.