Divus Constantine With Manus Dei

As a collector of deification issues, I already had one commemorating the death and apotheosis of Constantine, but when I saw this I knew it was special.

Deification of rulers was common in ancient Egypt, and less so in ancient Greece. In Rome, the first to be commemorated on the coinage was Julius Caesar to be followed by his adopted heir, Augustus. The imperial cult grew stronger under the Flavians and continued through the second and third centuries.

But as Christianity and other religions took hold, the imperial cult waned. But it was still useful for Constantine's heirs, who recognized the value of deifying Constantine while at the same time respecting his new-found religion. Hence the Manus Dei - or Hand of God - on the reverse of the coin.

This coin becomes a historical missing link connecting the imperial pagan cult of ancient Rome with its successor, Christianity. The coin has the elements of the former - the veiled portrait, and the soul in flight behind an astral quadriga - with an important element of the latter, the Manus Dei.

While common (this example set me back less than US $100 after shipping and buyer's fee) this coin has special significance in the historical record, showing the evolution of Rome and its connection to Christianity.