Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of St. Helena — Mother of Constantine the Great — Nearly 1,700 Years Old

What an extraordinary little piece of Christian and Roman history to hold in your hand.

This ancient bronze coin is attributed to Helena — St. Helena to Christians — the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Measuring approximately 1.5 cm (15 mm) across, this tiny coin has survived for nearly 1,700 years.

St. Helena lived during one of the most consequential periods in the history of Christianity. Her son, Constantine the Great, became the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity and brought an end to the empire's official persecution of Christians.

Helena herself became a devout Christian and made a celebrated pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Christian tradition, recorded beginning in the later fourth century, associates her with the discovery of the True Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. 

The handwritten holder that accompanied this coin identifies it as:

“Helena 250–329 — Mother of Constantine the Great.”

Its small 15 mm size is particularly interesting. Known posthumous bronze coins honoring Helena were struck around A.D. 337–340 at approximately this size. Examples bear Helena's portrait on the obverse and PAX PVBLICA — “The Peace of the State” — on the reverse, represented by the figure of Pax holding a branch and scepter. One catalogued variety measures exactly 15 mm. 

Numista +1

Imagine the history this tiny piece has witnessed. It was created in the Roman world of Constantine and Helena, during the extraordinary century in which Christianity emerged from persecution and began to transform the Roman Empire.

The surface retains the dark, aged patina one would expect from an ancient bronze. It has not been cleaned by us, and we recommend leaving its centuries-old surface exactly as found.

Its historical connection is remarkable: an ancient coin bearing the image of the woman Christians have honored for centuries as St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great and traditionally the finder of the True Cross.

Diameter: approximately 1.5 cm / 15 mm

Material: Ancient bronze

Period: Late Roman Empire, 4th century A.D.

Condition: Heavily circulated

Accompanied by: Older handwritten attribution holder

Age: Approximately 1,700 years

**Only one available. Once this little piece of ancient Christian history finds its new home, it is gone.**