The nummus in the late antique world

The later Roman empire underwent multiple economic developments throughout its long history, and this coin is part of it. There are two major monetary reforms that took place in this period, those of Aurelian and later that of Diocletian. In 271 AD outward pressure on the Roman borders ceased, giving emperor Aurelian the opportunity to look inward. In 274, several Italian mints reopened and Aurelian introduced a new silver coin, the aurelianus (humbly named after himself). The intent was to revalue a gold/silver/bronze coinage system (trimetallic) inspired by the coinage of Caracalla (211-217). Nummi, like the one here, were introduced into the Roman world by the emperor Diocletian, who wanted to renew the Aurelian monetary reforms. He first introduced these coins in 293 as a silver-washed bronze coin, or billon.Estiot, S., “The Later Third Century” in William E. Metcalf eds. The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage (2012) 538-560

This small coin with the image of Helena is thus not significant as a single specimen, but was definitely a part of larger economic developments that took place in the later years of the Roman empire. The coin is also a wonderful example of how little things can tell great stories: this small nummus tells us a great deal about important events that took place in the life of Helena and thus gives us some idea of the important part that she plays in the history of the Roman empire, the establishment of the Constantinian dynasty and the development of Christianity in the ancient world.