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Centenionalis - Magnentius SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES, Ambianum
| Issuer | Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Year | 350-353 |
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| Currency | Solidus, Reform of Constantine (AD 310/324 – 395) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A large Christogram (Chi-Rho monogram, ☧) dominates the centre of the field, formed by the superimposition of the Greek letters Chi and Rho, with a crescent or rho-loop surmounting the vertical shaft — one of the earliest and most prominent uses of this Christian symbol on Roman imperial coinage. The Greek letters Alpha (A) and Omega (ω) flank the monogram to the left and right respectively, referencing the Book of Revelation and underscoring the Christian symbolism of the type. The surrounding Latin legend SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES proclaims the salvation of our Lords the Augustus and Caesar. The mint mark AMB in the exergue identifies the Ambianum (Amiens) mint as the place of striking. |
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| Additional information |
Magnentius seized power in January 350 by having himself proclaimed emperor at a dinner party in Autun, killing the legitimate Augustus Constans in the process. His mint at Ambianum — modern Amiens — became one of his primary western production centers during the civil war against Constantius II that followed. The SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES reverse type is a deliberate piece of political messaging, broadcasting the health and legitimacy of both Augustus and Caesar to a western audience that Constantius was actively trying to peel away.
Magnentius was decisively defeated at the Battle of Mons Seleucus in 353, after which Ambianum ceased operations entirely.