Welcome to VDG Militaria
We are a small family business based in the Twin Cities Area of Minnesota, passionate about preserving history through authentic military artifacts. Established in 2014, every item in our store has a story to tell, connecting you to a significant piece of the past.
Product Description
Below is the detailed description of the product:
This is a genuine Roman bronze of the House of Constantine, bearing the celebrated GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse and pierced in antiquity or later for wear — offered honestly with its reverse type and era identified, though its individual emperor is beyond recovery.
Turning first to the object itself: measured against the scale it is an AE3 of approximately 15–16 millimetres in diameter, struck in bronze. On the obverse a diademed or laureate bust faces right; the profile survives, but the surrounding titulature has been worn away, so the ruler cannot be named. The reverse is the more rewarding side and carries a readable type — two helmeted soldiers standing and facing one another, each resting on a spear and shield, with a military standard (the labarum-topped signum) set between them. This is the GLORIA EXERCITVS reverse, "the Glory of the Army," and it fixes the coin firmly within the Constantinian dynasty, roughly AD 330–341. A further feature deserves note: the flan has been deliberately pierced, an old hole punched near one edge, showing that at some point the coin was strung and worn — as a pendant, an amulet, or a token sewn to a garment — a second life common to Roman coins in later hands. Whether the piercing is ancient or of a later century cannot be determined from the coin alone.
The type itself is a window onto the politics of the age. When Constantine the Great died in 337, he left the empire divided among his sons, and the GLORIA EXERCITVS coinage — struck by the tens of millions across mints from Trier and London to Antioch — was in every sense propaganda in metal. Its message was blunt and deliberate: the strength and loyalty of the Roman army were the guarantee of the dynasty's survival. In a century that had only just clawed its way out of anarchy, and in which the legions made and unmade emperors, to place "the Glory of the Army" on the common coin of the realm was to remind every soldier and subject where power truly resided. The reduction of the standards on these coins from two to one over the 330s even allows numismatists to track the shrinking of the bronze coinage as the dynasty's finances tightened.
The coin carries the earthen green patina and honest wear of a true antiquity, together with the old suspension hole that marks its long human afterlife, and no trace of modern manufacture. It is offered as an authentic Roman AE3 of the House of Constantine (GLORIA EXERCITVS type, c. AD 330–341), of unattributed individual emperor, sold as described — a coin that was first imperial money, then somebody's kept and worn treasure, and is now a tangible relic of the sons of Constantine and the army that upheld their throne.
Important Note:
We believe that a picture speaks a thousand words. Please carefully examine the photos provided to fully understand the item's condition and details. What you see is exactly what you will receive, so feel free to zoom in and inspect each image to ensure you are satisfied with your purchase.
About Us
VDG Militaria is a family-run business located in the Twin Cities Area of Minnesota. Since 2014, we have been dedicated to preserving historical artifacts and connecting collectors with authentic military memorabilia. We specialize in items from various eras, including World War I, World War II, and beyond.
Why Choose Us?
- Authentic and carefully curated artifacts.
- Family-run business with a personal touch.
- Located in Minnesota, serving customers since 2014.
- Passion for preserving and sharing history.
Payments
We accept all major credit cards and PayPal for secure and convenient transactions.
Shipping
Orders are generally shipped within 4-5 business days via USPS with a tracking number. We are happy to combine shipping to give you the best shipping rate possible. However, PLEASE REQUEST A TOTAL BEFORE PAYING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
If you fail to do so, we will ship your items out individually and will NOT be able to refund shipping prices. We receive hundreds of orders daily, and unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to retroactively combine shipping when the buyer fails to properly request an invoice.
For detailed instructions on how to request a total, please refer to eBay's guidelines on combined shipping. Note: Items shipped internationally via the Global Shipping Program CANNOT be combined due to eBay's policy.
Returns
At VDG Militaria, we only accept returns under the following circumstances:
- The item was damaged during transit.
- There is a concern about the authenticity of the item.
We do not accept returns for the following reasons:
- Buyer?s remorse.
- The item does not fit or meet subjective preferences.
Please carefully review the item description and photos before purchasing. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via eBay messaging.
Feedback
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