Collecting the Coins of Constantius II AD 317–361 · The Survivor of Constantine's Dynasty · Sole Ruler of the Roman World

Collecting the Coins of Constantius II
Constantinian Dynasty · Collector's Guide

Collecting the Coins of Constantius II

AD 317–361 · The Survivor of Constantine's Dynasty · Sole Ruler of the Roman World

Roman Empire 317–361 AD Kinzer Coins

Of all Constantine the Great's sons, only one survived long enough to reunite the empire under his sole rule: Constantius II.

His reign lasted nearly a quarter century and unfolded during one of the most turbulent periods in late Roman history — dynastic purges, civil wars, Persian conflict, and theological division within Christianity. Not the bold conqueror his father had been, Constantius II became something different: the cautious, calculating survivor of the Constantinian dynasty. His coinage reflects the transformation of Rome from the classical empire of earlier centuries into the increasingly ceremonial, Christian, and militarized empire of Late Antiquity — and remains among the most affordable and historically important artifacts from the late Roman world.

From Caesar to Sole Emperor

Constantius II was born in AD 317 and elevated to Caesar in AD 324 after his father became sole ruler of the Roman world. He grew up during a period of enormous transformation: Christianity expanding rapidly, Constantinople rising as a new imperial capital, the court becoming increasingly ceremonial, and frontier pressures intensifying across the empire. Throughout his youth he appeared regularly on imperial coinage alongside his brothers, reinforcing dynastic legitimacy before he held independent authority.

When Constantine the Great died in AD 337, the empire descended into uncertainty. A bloody purge claimed several imperial relatives almost immediately. The empire was then divided: Constantine II took the far West, Constans took Italy and much of the Balkans, and Constantius II inherited the eastern provinces — and the empire's greatest external threat: the Sasanian Persians under Shapur II. Much of his reign was dominated by that eastern war, centered around Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Syria, including the famous and devastating fall of Amida in AD 359 described by Ammianus Marcellinus.

In AD 340 Constantine II was killed fighting Constans. In AD 350 Constans was overthrown and killed by the usurper Magnentius. Constantius II defeated Magnentius at the Battle of Mursa Major in AD 351 — one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history — and became sole ruler of the Roman Empire.

The FEL TEMP REPARATIO Series

One of the most famous coin series of the late Roman Empire appeared under Constantius II: FEL TEMP REPARATIO — "The Restoration of Happy Times." These reverses projected imperial recovery and renewed Roman strength during an era of genuine instability. The most famous type is the fallen horseman: a Roman soldier advancing with spear over a collapsing barbarian horseman — dramatic, historically charged, and struck in enormous numbers across the empire. Other types include the emperor standing over captives, phoenix imagery, galley scenes, and the emperor leading barbarians from huts. Today FEL TEMP REPARATIO fallen horseman coins are among the best entry points in all of late Roman numismatics: historically dramatic, often with excellent detail, affordable, and widely available.
Fallen Horseman
The most iconic late Roman coin type — Roman soldier advancing over a collapsing barbarian horseman. Struck in enormous numbers with strong detail on well-preserved examples. Among the best affordable entry points in all of late Roman numismatics.
Emperor & Captives
FEL TEMP REPARATIO variants showing the emperor standing over defeated enemies — symbolizing Roman military dominance and imperial authority over the barbarian world. Rich in late Roman propaganda imagery.
Silver Siliqua
Scarcer and more expensive than bronze issues — elegant late Roman portraits with refined engraving and Christian-era imperial symbolism. Sharply struck silver examples with strong portrait detail are especially prized by advanced collectors.
GLORIA EXERCITVS
The classic Constantinian dynasty reverse — two soldiers flanking military standards — continuing from his Caesar period under Constantine the Great. Excellent for building dynasty sets that span all four members of the ruling family.

Mints of Constantius II

Constantius II struck coins across the full late Roman imperial mint network during his long reign — each developing its own portrait character and mintmark conventions. His extended tenure means portrait styles evolved dramatically, offering collectors a rich visual record of one emperor across nearly three decades.

Antioch
Constantinople
Trier
Rome
Siscia
Thessalonica
Alexandria
Arles

Why Collect Constantius II

Start Here
FEL TEMP REPARATIO fallen horseman bronzes — the most historically dramatic and widely available late Roman type. Strong detail, affordable prices, and direct connection to Rome's eastern wars and Christian imperial propaganda.
Go Deeper
Build a full Constantinian dynasty set spanning Constantine the Great, Constantine II, Constans, and Constantius II — tracing the same GLORIA EXERCITVS and FEL TEMP REPARATIO types across the family. One of the richest and most cohesive collecting goals in late Roman numismatics.
Constantius II's coins connect collectors directly to the sons of Constantine the Great, the wars against Shapur II's Persia, the bloodiest civil war of the 4th century, and the continuing transformation of Rome into the Christian empire that would eventually become Byzantium. He outlived every member of his family, survived every threat, and died as sole ruler — naming Julian as his successor before the last son of Constantine the Great was gone. His coins are affordable, historically extraordinary, and struck in enough variety that they reward collectors at every level. The fallen horseman alone is worth owning.

Hold what the greats held.

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Browse Coins of Constantius II at Kinzer Coins

Authentic late Roman bronze from the Constantinian dynasty — FEL TEMP REPARATIO fallen horsemen, GLORIA EXERCITVS types, and silver siliquae still surprisingly affordable.

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