Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Emperor Constantine II (c. AD 330, Son of Constantine the Great)

Own a Bronze Coin from the Emperor Who Invaded His Brother's Territory — and Was Ambushed and Killed Within Months

A real AE3/4 bronze of Constantine II — born in the imperial purple, raised to rule the western provinces of Britain, Gaul, and Spain, and dead within three years of receiving them after invading his younger brother Constans's territory in AD 340 and walking into an ambush near Aquileia. NGC certified.

✓ NGC Certified
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👑 Eldest surviving son of Constantine I — born in the purple, groomed from childhood for imperial rule, allocated Britain, Gaul, and Spain after his father's death in AD 337
🏛 Reverse depicts military standards, Victory, camp gates, or soldiers — the Constantinian imagery of an emperor who proved too impatient to accept the territory he had been given
🤲 Struck AD 316–340 — his independent reign as Augustus lasted exactly three years before he was killed invading his own brother's domain. NGC certified.

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

Constantine II was literally born in the purple — his father Constantine I was already emperor when he came into the world, making him the first of the Constantinian sons to carry that distinction from birth. He was elevated to Caesar at age one alongside the infant Crispus, and spent his entire childhood being groomed for imperial rule. When Constantine I died in AD 337, the empire was divided among his three surviving sons — Constantine II received the westernmost territories: Britain, Gaul, and Spain. On paper, it was an enormous inheritance.

Constantine II did not find it sufficient. He appears to have believed that as the eldest surviving brother he deserved primacy over the others, and that his allocation — while geographically vast — lacked the prestige and resources of the central and eastern territories held by his brothers Constans and Constantius II. The family tensions that had been suppressed during the AD 337 succession negotiations resurfaced within three years. In AD 340, Constantine II marched his army into Constans's territory in northern Italy.

He did not march carefully enough. Constans — then only about seventeen years old — was fighting on the Danubian frontier when Constantine II invaded, but Constans's generals responded with unexpected effectiveness. Constantine II's forces were lured into a narrow defile near Aquileia in modern northeastern Italy and ambushed. Constantine II was killed in the fighting. He was approximately twenty-four years old. His territory was absorbed by Constans, who at seventeen had outmaneuvered and destroyed the brother who had underestimated him. The dynasty Constantine I had so carefully built had lost its eldest son within three years of the founder's death. Certified by NGC.

Perfect for:

• Collectors of Constantinian dynasty, sons of Constantine, and Roman AE3/4 bronze coinage
• History lovers drawn to Constantine II, the post-Constantinian civil wars, and the rapid fracturing of the dynasty
• Military standards and camp gate reverse types, western provinces Caesar, and NGC certified Constantinian bronze enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking a coin from the impatient emperor who proved that being born in the purple was no guarantee of judgment

What You'll Receive

• One authentic AE3/4 bronze of Constantine II
• Denomination: AE3/4 (small late Roman bronze)
• NGC certified for authenticity and preservation
• Struck AD 316–340 — similar to examples shown (each coin is unique)

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

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