For most of the fourth century AD, Roman society was a curious mix of the traditional pagan and the official state religion of Christianity. The first sign of Christianity to appear on Roman coins was not a cross, the most important symbol of modern Christianity, but a device called the Christogram or the ‘chi-rho’ symbol. The example illustrated shows the Christogram in its fullest form. The first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek, chi and rho, are superimposed to form the main symbol. Flanking this are alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, another symbol of Christ – ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last’ (Revelation 1:8). (source: The British Museum)
Magnentius Ae. Double Centenionalis
$236.35
DN MAGNEN-TIVS PF AVG legend with bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right, rev: SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES legend with large Chi-Rho, alpha and omega across fields.
Mintmark dot in crescent – AMB-star below.
Condition: Excellent condition.
SOLD
