Crispus (Caesar) 317 - 326 A.D.
| Coin Description | Crispus, AE 18mm, Grade??, the coin is well centered but its surface is quite mottled, it looks a bit better in hand then on the scan but not much, RIC VII Cyzicus 10, RBC 278, VM 15 |
| Obverse | The portrait is of Crispus a laureate and draped bust facing left, holding globe and scepter in his left hand and a mappa in his right hand. The legend reads DN FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES meaning: DN (Dominus Noster /our lord) FL IVL (are for his first names Flavius Iulius) CRISPVS (his name) NOB CAES (Nobilitas Caesar / Royal Heir to the throne). |
| Reverse | The reverse shows Jupiter standing left, holding a scepter and Victory on a globe (called a Victoriola which is a carved cult statue of victory which is holding out a wreath) There's also a wreath at Jupiter's feet which is another symbol of victory and is also a mint sequence mark. Jupiter presents the Victoriola, which symbolizes the gift of victory in battle from the gods and the renown that came with the victory, to Crispus (Crispus was quite a successful general). There's a mark in the right field but its hard to tell what it is. The legend reads IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS which translates as: Jupiter protects our Caesars (the second S in CAESS means that there is another heir to the throne, in this case Constantine II). |
| Mint | The exergue reads SMK meaning SM (Sacred Moneta / Sacred Money) K for the Cyzicus mint. |
| The Entire Story | The entire story of this coin would read: Our Lord Flavius Iulius Crispus the noble heir to the throne who is protected/blessed by the gods and who is granted victory over our enemies by the gods. |
