Constans augustus, 337 – 350. Medallion of four heavy siliquae or three light miliarenses, Aquileia 340-350, AR 13.22 g. F L IVL CONS – TANS P F AVG Laurel and rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORIAE – DD – NN AVGG Victory seated r. on cuirass, holding shield inscribed VOT / X / MVLT / XV; in exergue, áAQ. C – . Gnecchi –. RIC –. Toynbee –. Paolucci-Zub –.
Apparently unique and unrecorded. An impressive medallion with a pleasant
old cabinet tone, an unobtrusive small area of porosity
on reverse field, otherwise extremely fine

Ex Tkalec May 2009, 207; NGSA VI, 2010, 203; NAC 72, 2013, 4615 and NAC 78, 2014, 1165 sales.
This impressive silver medallion of Constans commemorates, or at least alludes to, the death of his brother and competitor for imperial power, Constantine II. He was killed by agents of Constans in an ambush near Aquileia in AD 340. This was a macabre event to celebrate, but perhaps not surprising since both brothers had begun their reigns drenched in the blood of their relatives.
Their father, Constantine the Great died in AD 337, leaving the Roman Empire to his three sons, Constantius II, Constantine II, and Constans, and their half-cousins, Delmatius and Hanniballianus. Not wishing to share the inheritance, the brothers ordered the murder Delmatius, Hanniballianus and their families. Rome and the western provinces were subsequently ruled by Constans while Constantius II claimed Antioch and much of the East. Constantine II, however, was left with little territory of his own and demanded Italy and North Africa from Constans. When these demands were refused, Constantine II invaded Italy, only to die near Aquileia.
The reverse inscription VICTORIAE DD NN AVGG (”for the Victory of Our Lords the Augusti”), which recognizes only two emperors (DD NN AVGG), certainly reflects the new reality in which only Constans and Constantius II reigned. However, if the medallion was actually produced a little after AD 340, the victory in question might also refer to Constans’ successes against the Germanic Franks in AD 341-342.
Constantine II was at last avenged on Constans on January 12, AD 350, when the latter was overthrown by his guard commander, Magnentius, while campaigning in Gaul. Constans escaped and tried to make for Hispania, but was hunted down and killed before he could cross the Pyrenees.