Follis — Constantine the Great — SPQR Optimo Principi

Obverse: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine the Great right

Reverse: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI ("the Senate and Roman People to the best prince"), three military standards surmounted by wreath, eagle, and hand

Mass: 3.88 g

Diameter: 23 mm

The reverse type S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI revives traditional Roman language of imperial praise, presenting Constantine as an ideal ruler in the style of earlier emperors. The three military standards, topped by a wreath, eagle, and hand, emphasize the authority and loyalty of the Roman army, with the eagle representing military power and the standards symbolizing the organized forces that supported imperial rule. This imagery connects Constantine's reign with earlier traditions of military success and senatorial approval.

Constantine the Great ruled from AD 306 to 337 and transformed the Roman world through his victory over his rivals, his foundation of Constantinople, and his support for Christianity after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. The follis was a large bronze denomination introduced during the reforms of Diocletian and continued under Constantine, serving as one of the empire's primary circulating coins during the early fourth century. Reverse types emphasizing military authority remained common in this period, reflecting the army's essential role in securing and legitimizing imperial power.