Constans What Is The Value Of This Coin?

This coin isn't Constans at all, its actually an issue from Vabalathus. Vabalathus was regent of the Palmyrene Empire under his mother's guidance. The empire was usurped from Rome by Odaenathus, who was almost immediately killed, leaving his child son to rule under the watchful eye of his mother, Zenobia. Aurelian, who is depicted on the other side of this coin, was too busy dealing with uprisings in the West and so he initially recognised the claim. Zenobia was cautious to not provoke the Emperor in Rome, and so they did not initially claim some important titles - take a look at your coin, which reads IMP AVRELIANVS AVG - Imperator and Augustus, and VABALATHVS VCRIM DR - no roman titles!


At its greatest extent, the Palmyrene Empire stretched from Egypt to Ankara. Vabalathus and Zenobia began taking imperial titles and dropping Aurelian from their coinage (and slaughtering lots of Romans in war), and so Aurelian had to put a stop to it. He besieged Palmyra in the Summer of 272 AD, capturing and executing the leadership of the breakaway empire. It is not known what fate befell Zenobia and Vabalathus. He then razed Palmyra. It would be substantially restored by Justinian some 250 years later, but never recovered.

As for value, it is quite a nice example of an interesting type. You could probably expect $40-50 for it.

Ben, as always, nice write up. This is a very nice example, actually better than mine.