The POP ROMANVS type was issued circa A.D. 330 and this half- “centenionales†was likely a donative issued to commemorate the founding of Constantinople. There are two types, the star reverse and bridge reverse. The two reverses probably represent the cities of Rome and Constantinople, the star for Constantinople and the bridge for Rome. There has been speculation that the bridge is an allusion to Constantine's victory at the Milvian Bridge but it seems unlikely given how many years had passed, it is probably just a bridge over a river. These coins were included in RIC VIII because when RIC VII was published, numismatists believed that these coins were struck circa A.D. 340, however the Llanbethery Hoard of Constantinian coins, which had one example, proved that these coins were struck earlier.
Commemorative
A.D. 330
14mm 1.2gm
POP ROMANVS, laureate & draped bust of the Roman people left, cornucopia over shoulder
REV: Bridge over river and mintmark of CONSS
RIC VIII Constantinople 21
A.D. 330
13mm .94gm
POP ROMANVS- laureate & draped bust of the Roman people left, cornucopia over shoulder
REV- wreath surrounding star and mintmark of CONSZ
RIC VIII Constantinople 22
