Circular pendant with double solidus of Constantine I
'The basic construction is the same as in the cases of polygonal pendants, except that the edge has not been reinforced by notching it and bending it over, but by soldering to the front a separately made frame with a notched edge.
Opus interrasile on the suspension loop, but there are some noteworthy differences. The medallion belongs to an earlier issue. It was struck in Sirmium in AD 321, on the occasion of the second consulship of Crispus and Constantine II.
The obverse shows the emperor's left profile. He wears the radiate crown, cuirass, and paludamentum, raises his right hand in salutation, and holds a decorated globe in his left. The legend 'D N CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG' encircles the bust.
On the reverse the consular busts of two Caesars face each other. Crispus is on the left and his younger half-brother, Constantine II, on the right. Each of them holds a globe and an eagle-tipped scepter, which cross. The legend reads 'CRISPVS ET CONSTANTINVS NOBB CAESS COSS II.' In exergue: SIRM.
One of the busts, its frame, and part of the surrounding openwork decoration are missing. Either in antiquity or at a later stage in the course of the history of this piece, the damage was done deliberately. The adjacent tondo shows traces of an effort to remove it as well, for part of its frame is marred. Except for this damage, the pendant is in the same fine condition as the other pieces.
The openwork design is particularly elaborate. A small border of intertwined S-shaped hooks, possibly the ‘running dog’ motif transformed into opus interrasile, surrounds the plain inner zone around the mount.' A small reserved line separates this border from the outer zone with the main decoration. Set between the tondi with the relief busts are heart-shaped ornaments formed by two antithetically arranged tendril scrolls with an ivy leaf reserved in gold in the center. This openwork design is exactly the same as that of the hexagonal pendants, but in a more generous version.
The descriptions below begin at the top right bust and follow around clockwise.
No. 1: male, nude, in a three-quarter view. The proper right shoulder is raised, the head slightly inclined toward the left. His short curly hair and a full beard recall the bust of, probably, Hercules on the hexagonal pendant in the British Museum.
No. 2: male youth in a three-quarter view wearing a tunic. Heavy strands of straight hair frame his face with a fringe and cover his ears and part of his neck.
No. 3: missing.
No. 4: young female in a chiton, straight hair parted in the center and brushed back. At the top of her head is a tripartite crown tress.
No. 5: young female, similar to no. 4. Her hair is brushed back in soft waves, a tripartite crown tress covering the top of her head.
No. 6: young female, similar to nos. 4 and 5. Her hair is brushed back and down. At the top is a diadem (?) with a central ornament in the shape of a rosette.'
Quantity
1
Diameter
9 cm
Comment
Louvre Museum, BJ 2280
Material
Gold
Hoard
References:
Reference
Comment
https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/medallion-coin-bearing-portrait-emperor-constantine
This object
Yes
