Circular pendant with double solidus of Constantine I
'The basic construction is the same as in the cases of polygonal pendants, except that the edge has not been reinforced by notching it and bending it over, but by soldering to the front a separately made frame with a notched edge.
The medallion was issued in Sirmium in AD 324. The obverse shows the emperor's left profile. He wears the radiate crown, cuirass, and paludamentum, raises his right hand in salutation, and holds a decorated globe in his left. The legend 'D N CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG' encircles the bust.
On the reverse the consular busts of two Caesars face each other. Crispus is on the left and his younger half-brother, Constantine II, on the right. Each of them holds a globe and an eagle-tipped scepter, which cross. The legend reads 'CRISPVS ET CONSTANTINVS NOBB CAESS COSS III.' In exergue: SIRM.
The decoration of the circular frame is organized in the same way as that of the polygonal pendants. Tondi with small relief busts are inte grated in an openwork design of tendril scrolls. The main motif is a me dallion-like whorl in the shape of three schematic circles of a single stem with an abstract rendering of small shoots. A vine leaf is set into the cen ter of each whorl. Like the whorls, which alternately loop to the right and to the left, the position of the leaves varies. As on the other pendants, tendril scrolls develop from the main motifs and fill the spandrels.
The following descriptions of the busts begin at the top right and follow around clockwise.
No. 1: male youth in a three-quarter view, nude except for a cloak draped over the proper left shoulder. Thick spiraling curls in high relief surround a pleasant oval face with clearly defined arched brows, large eyes, straight nose, and small mouth with curved lips. The idealized features suggest an interpretation as a classical hero.
No. 2: nude male youth, nearly facing front, head inclined toward the left. The straight, medium-length hair forms a fringe around his forehead and reaches down to the elongated neck. The large eyes with deeply incised curved lower lids and a thin-lipped, partly open mouth emphasize his melancholy expression.
No. 3: young man, nude, nearly facing front, eyes gazing off into the distance. The smooth oval head with idealized features has Alexander the Great's characteristic forelock. Although varying in detail, the bust basically resembles the Alexander bust on the pendant in Cleveland.
No. 4: draped female in a three-quarter view. Her hair is parted in the center and brushed back. A few curls and a larger element are arranged on the top of her head.
No. 5: male nude youth in a three-quarter view. The short hair is organized in thick spiraling locks. His face is round, with large ears, straight nose, carefully incised eyes, and small mouth; his elongated neck is muscular. The nudity and the coiffure suggest an interpretation as a hero.
No. 6: female, in near frontal view, wearing a chiton. The wavy hair is parted in the center and gathered at the back. On top of her head are either large curls or, more likely, circular settings forming a diadem.'
Quantity
1
Diameter
8 cm
Comment
Dumbarton Oaks, Byzantine Collection, inv.no. 70.37
Material
Gold
Hoard
References:
Reference
Comment
http://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/constantine-pendants
This object
Yes
