304–326 A.D. Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Crispus NGC VF

Stabbed In the Back By Dear Old Dad

The Constantinian Dynasty was perhaps the last great epoch of the ancient Roman Empire. It was a period of Roman Imperial civilization founded in AD 306 by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great that lasted until 363. It was also an era fraught with enough drama to make even the cheesiest Hollywood soap opera writer blush.

Never Cross the Emperor. Ever.

Take Constantine’s first-born son Flavius Julius Crispus, for example. For 20 years, Crispus stood at Constantine’s side. No expense was spared on the boy’s education and it was obvious the two loved each other deeply. There was just one problem; Crispus was the son of Constantine’s first wife, Minervina. By the time Crispus had reached full adulthood, Constantine’s second wife, Fausta, was pushing for her sons to succeed Constantine. It was at this point that Fausta told Constantine that Crispus had tried to rape her.

So, on the 20th anniversary of his reign, in Ad 326, Constantine had Crispus brought to him on a pretext of familial tenderness, and then had him executed. The details are rather sketchy after that as Constantine ordered all mention of Crispus removed from the history books. What IS known is that Crispus was executed on his father’s orders. A few months later Fausta was drowned in an overheated bath. We’ll never know if Fausta set Crispus up or if there was a real romantic entanglement — or even if Fausta’s last child was the daughter of Constantine or Crispus!

Nice Very Fine Condition

That story makes the portrait of Flavius Julius Crispus that graces the obverse of this genuine Roman Bronze coin struck during the reign of his father Constantine the Great, read like a regular romance pot-boiler! Struck more than 1,650 years ago, this coin comes certified and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as being in nice Very Fine (VF) condition. It will also come beautifully housed in a wood presentation box perfect for display anywhere ion your home or office.