Ancient Rome - AD 337-361 Constantius II AV Solidus NGC Choice AU

Very rare Constantius II 337-361 CE AV Solidus (22mm, 4.54 gm, 12h). Aquileia mint, struck 337-340 CE.

Obverse: CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, laurel and rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: FELICIT-AS PERPETVA, Victory seated facing right on cuirass, supporting on her left knee a shield inscribed VOT/X/MVLT/XX in four lines; to right, small genius standing facing left supporting the shield; S M AQ in exergue. This Solidus is a very rare issue. This specific example sold at Heritage as a raw coin in 2013. Despite extensive research, no other specimens that match its exact wording and imagery have been located.

Presumed bust of Constantius II from an exhibition at the Colosseum  in 2013.

Constantius II, the third son of Constantine the Great, was more successful than other heirs of Constantine. He was born in 317 CE and raised to rank of Caesar with his younger brother Constans in 324 CE. After the death of their father, Constantine's three sons split the Empire among themselves, with Constantius acquiring the flourishing Eastern part of the Roman Empire. Constantius was kept busy for several years with a border war with Sasanian Persians. For when Constans was removed from power by the usurper Magnentius in 350 CE, it was a full year before Constantius could extricate his army from the conflict with the Persians and march westward to dispose his brother's pretender. The Persians began threatening the Eastern frontier again and Constantius promoted his cousin Julian to Caesar in 355 CE to take care of the Western Empire so he could return to Antioch and confront the Persians. However, Julian's great popularity made Constantus apprehensive. He forced Julian into an open revolt in 360 CE, but before a full-scale Civil War could began, Constantius unexpectedly fell ill and died on November 3, 361 CE.