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GIANT ANCIENT ROMAN IMPERIAL BRONZE COIN PENDANT OF FIRST CHRISTIAN EMPEROR CONSTANTINE IN 14KY GOLD 306 - 307 A.D. This is a very large and substantial coin minted when Constantine the Great was Caesar between 306 and 307 A.D.. It is an impressive and exquisitely preserved genuine ancient bronze follis of one of Rome's most famous and accomplished emperors. With most coins featuring his profile measuring the size of a U.S. dime, this is THE FIRST TIME we have offered such a beautiful and high-grade follis coin with his profile which measures nearly the size of a U.S. half dollar coin! The photographs above did not capture the fine detail and excellent preservation of the coin so it is important to note that THIS COIN IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE IMAGES SHOW. Even so, the coin is even better than this image. Set in a high polished 14K yellow gold setting, the wonderful brown-green patina is beautifully complimented by the yellow of the gold. No event in the history of the Western world was probably more pivotal than that of the Christian conversion of the emperor Constantine. Constantine the Great, as he is famously known, was the first ruler of the Roman Empire to convert to Christianity. His conversion resulted from a miraculous event that took place on the battlefield. Constantine was encamped with his army at the Milvian Bridge, heavily outnumbered by the armies of his challenger Maxentius, across the river. The following historical account was recorded at that time by an ancient writer as follows: "Constantine was praying to his father's god, beseeching him to tell him who he was and imploring him to stretch out his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. While he was fervently praying, an incredible sign appeared to him from heaven. (It would be hard to believe his account if it had been told by anyone else. But the victorious emperor long afterwards declared it to the writer of this history -- when I was honored to meet and talk with him and he even confirmed his statement by an oath. Thus, who could doubt him, especially since time has established its truth?)
"He said that he doubted within himself what importance the vision might hold. He continued to ponder its meaning through until he fell asleep. While sleeping, the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign he had seen earlier in the heavens. God commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens and to use it as a safeguard in all encounters with his enemies." Immediately, Constantine placed the sign of Christ on his standards and had it painted on his shields. Constantine won the day with a decisive victory and Maxentius, thrown from the Milvian Bridge, was drowned when the weight of his armor caused him to sink into the mud and ooze at the bottom of the River Tiber. His body was recovered the day after the battle. From this point on, Christianity became the official religion of the Empire and the capitol was moved from Rome to Constantinople (modern day Istanbul, Turkey). A wonderful and important artifact from ancient history. Overall diameter is impressively large at 28 mm. CPR109 SOLD COMES WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY / HISTORY SHEET *** shown with optional CHAIN B, not included |
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He
said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he
saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above
the sun, and an inscription that said 'Conquer by This' attached to it.
Seeing this, he and his army, which followed him on an expedition and
witnessed the miracle, were struck with amazement.