Skip to main content
Constantine the Great
Constantine the Great

Constantine the Great

Michelet Saulmon (French)
early 15th century
Object PlaceFrance
Medium/TechniqueMetal; silver (95% silver, 5% copper)
DimensionsDiameter and weight: 88 mm (3 7/16 in.)
Credit LineTheodora Wilbour Fund in memory of Zoë Wilbour
Accession number57.170
On View
On view
ClassificationsNumismatics
Collections
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "CONSTANTINVS·INXRO·DEO·FIDELIS·IMPERATOR·ET·MODERATOR ROMANORVM·ET·SEMPER·AVGVSTVS" ["Constantine, faithful in Christ our God, emperor and ruler of the Romans forever exalted"] and below horse "234". Reverse: Inscribed at sides of cross "Z" to proper right and "T" to proper left and at edge "·MIHI·ABSIT·GLORIARI·NIS·IN·CRVCE·DOMINI·NOSTRI·IHV·XRI·" [God forbid that I should glory in anything save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" from Galatians 6:14].ProvenanceWilhelm IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (b. 1743 - d. 1821) [see note 1]. 1957, Leopold Blumka, New York; 1957, sold by Blumka to the MFA for $1,500. (Accession Date: March 14, 1957)

NOTES:
[1] According to information supplied by curator Hanns Swarzenski at the time of the medal's acquisition.