He was the eldest son of the most powerful emperor of his time – yet Constantine II always remained in his father's shadow. As a young Caesar, he minted coins, led campaigns, and ruled over large parts of the empire. But his life ended early and violently – in a fratricidal war that destroyed the legacy of Constantine the Great.
Childhood and Rise to Caesar
Constantine II was born around 316 AD in Arles (Southern France), as the eldest son of Constantine I and his second wife Fausta. Even as a toddler, he was integrated into the power structures of the empire: at the age of only one year, his father appointed him Caesar – sub-emperor and designated successor.
The legend on his coins makes his status unmistakably clear: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C – "Constantine the Younger, most noble sub-emperor". The portrait shows him as a youthful prince with a laurel wreath and plate armor – a conscious image of authority and military strength, even though he was still a child at the time of minting.
The Coin as a Political Instrument
The bronze coins from the years 319–320 AD are among the earliest testimonies of his official position. The reverse shows two winged goddesses of victory (Victories) jointly holding a shield over a sacrificial altar – with the inscription VOT PR (Vota Populi Romani – "The Vows of the Roman People"). The legend VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP ("The joyful victory of the eternal prince") celebrates the military successes of the dynasty.
This iconography was no accident: Constantine I systematically used coinage as a propaganda tool. By dedicating his sons' own coins early on, he signaled to the entire empire: The succession is secured, the dynasty is stable.
Rule over the West
After the death of Constantine I in 337 AD, his three sons divided the empire among themselves – after a bloody purge in which almost all male relatives were murdered. Constantine II received the West: Britain, Gaul, and Spain. His brother Constans ruled over Italy and North Africa, Constantius II over the East.
But Constantine II was dissatisfied with his allocation. He claimed supremacy over all three brothers – a demand that Constans rejected.
The Fratricidal War and the End
In the spring of 340 AD, Constantine II crossed the Alps with an army to attack Constans. But the campaign ended disastrously: near Aquileia (Northern Italy), he was ambushed and killed. He was just 24 years old.
His death was the end of a short, turbulent reign – and the beginning of his brothers' sole rule. Constans took over his territories until he, too, was overthrown by a usurper in 350 AD.
What the Coin Transmits
While Constantine II left few traces as emperor, his coins from the Caesar period are remarkably well preserved. They show a young man who was destined for a great future – and yet failed early. Numismatically, these mintings are particularly interesting because they show the son, not the father – a detail that many dealers overlook.
To hold such a coin in your hands means: You are holding an object that was in circulation over 1,700 years ago – at a time when the Roman Empire still ruled the world and an emperor's son was immortalized on bronze before he was old enough to rule himself.
Constantine II in our Collection
At Nautilus Natural History, we offer an original follis of Constantine II from the years 319–320 AD – with an excellently legible legend, a sharp portrait, and authentic green-black patina. Including a certificate of authenticity and a transparent protective display.
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