Constantine the Great – The “Hand of God” Commemorative
This album features an authentic bronze coin issued after the death of Constantine the Great (AD 337) by his sons, who sought to honor their father as both emperor and divinely chosen ruler.
Coin Design:
Obverse: Veiled and shrouded bust of Constantine I, depicted as a deified figure in death.
Reverse: The emperor rides in a quadriga (four-horse chariot), ascending heavenward as the Manus Dei (Hand of God) reaches down from the heavens to receive him.
Historical Significance:
This coin is one of the earliest known depictions of the Hand of God in Roman art, symbolizing Constantine’s unique place at the crossroads of pagan and Christian traditions. While still borrowing imagery from Rome’s imperial past—such as the triumphal chariot—the reverse also expresses the new Christian idea of divine salvation.
Constantine’s reign reshaped history: he legalized Christianity, founded Constantinople as the new imperial capital, and forever altered the Roman world. These posthumous commemoratives reinforced his memory as a ruler chosen not only by Rome but also by God Himself.
This coin is more than a memorial—it is a bridge between the old Roman religion and the rising Christian empire, and a rare piece of numismatic art that captures the moment Rome’s first Christian emperor was received into eternity.
Constantine the Great – The “Hand of God” Commemorative
This album features an authentic bronze coin issued after the death of Constantine the Great (AD 337) by his sons, who sought to honor their father as both emperor and divinely chosen ruler.
Coin Design:
Obverse: Veiled and shrouded bust of Constantine I, depicted as a deified figure in death.
Reverse: The emperor rides in a quadriga (four-horse chariot), ascending heavenward as the Manus Dei (Hand of God) reaches down from the heavens to receive him.
Historical Significance:
This coin is one of the earliest known depictions of the Hand of God in Roman art, symbolizing Constantine’s unique place at the crossroads of pagan and Christian traditions. While still borrowing imagery from Rome’s imperial past—such as the triumphal chariot—the reverse also expresses the new Christian idea of divine salvation.
Constantine’s reign reshaped history: he legalized Christianity, founded Constantinople as the new imperial capital, and forever altered the Roman world. These posthumous commemoratives reinforced his memory as a ruler chosen not only by Rome but also by God Himself.
This coin is more than a memorial—it is a bridge between the old Roman religion and the rising Christian empire, and a rare piece of numismatic art that captures the moment Rome’s first Christian emperor was received into eternity.
