Arles/Arelate

Arles was an important Phoenician trading port prior to Roman conquest around 123 BC. In 104 BC a canal was dug to link it to the Mediterranean Sea. It grew in importance during the war between Caesar and Pompey. Massalia backed Pompey and when Caesar emerged victorious, Massalia was stripped of its possessions, which were transferred to Arelate as a reward. The town was formally established as a colony for veterans of the Roman legion Legio VI Ferrata, which had its base there. Its full title as a colony was Colonia Iulia Paterna Arelatensium Sextanorum, "the ancestral Julian colony of Arles of the soldiers of the Sixth." The city reached a peak of influence during the 4th and 5th centuries, when Roman Emperors frequently used it as their headquarters during military campaigns. In 395, it became the seat of the Praetorian Prefecture of the Gauls, governing the western part of the Western Empire: Gaul proper plus Hispania (Spain) and Armorica (Brittany). It became a favorite city of Emperor Constantine I, who built baths there. His son, Constantine II, was born in Arles. Usurper Constantine III declared himself emperor in the West (407–411) and made Arles his capital in 408.




Constans Hover to enlarge Constans

Constans
Mint: Arles
Spring of 340 AD
AE 3
Obvs: DN CONSTANS PF AVG. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Revs: GLORIA EXERCITVS, Standard between two soldiers. G within banner
15mm, 1.7g
$35.00
Order # RI 149
Ref: 1981 RIC VIII 58

Constantius II Hover to enlarge Constantius II

Constantius II
348 to 350 AD
Arles
AE 3
Obvs: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG
Revs: FEL TEMP REPARATIO, radiate Phoenix standing on globe. PARL
18mm, 2.0g
$39.00
Order # LR 074
Ref: RIC VIII.211.111

Constantius II Hover to enlarge Constantius II

Constantius II
347 to 348 AD
AE 4
Mint: Arles
Obvs: CONSTANTIVS FP AVG. Diademed, draped, and cuirass bust right.
Revs: VICTORIAE DD AVG Q NN, Two Victories holding wreaths. ∙ΛA/PARL
14mm, 1.5g
$28.00
Order # RI 150
Ref: 1981 RIC VIII, 78

Constantine I Hover to enlarge Constantine I

Constantine I
Arles mint
337 to 340 AD
AE 4
Obvs: DV CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG, Constantine veiled right.
Revs: AETERNA PIETAS, Emperor holding globe and spear. X to right, PCONST
a4x15mm, 1.41g
$275.00
Order # RI 216
RIC VII 17, Vagi 3150

CR