126 ROMAN COINS FOUND AT LITTLE CHESTER. 



is said that while marching with his forces in the afternoon, 

 the trophy of the cross appeared very luminous in the heavens, 

 brighter than the sun, with this inscription, "Conquer by 

 this." Pondering over this event till night, Christ appeared 

 to him in his sleep, with the same sign, and directed him 

 to make use of it as his military ensign.* This was done, 

 and the sign was placed on the imperial standards ; we have 

 an example of it on a coin of Valentinianus, of which an 

 illustration is given, Plate III. It is known as the labarum. 

 Constantine died after a reign of thirty years, in his 64th 

 year, May 22, A.D. 337. 



CONSTANTINVS . AVG. (the great). Bust laureated, 

 head to right; rev., a figure of Victory, with one foot resting 

 on a captive. Legend, (sar)M(a)TIA . INVICT A. Not a very 

 good example. 3rd Brass. Plate III. No. 17. 



The Sarmatians were a savage race, who, by their hostility to their 

 neighbours, the Goths, and others, were at last reduced to the neces- 

 sity of applying to Constantine for protection. He incorporated a 

 number of them into his legions, and assigned settlements to the 

 remainder in various parts of the empire. The military armour 

 of these people must have been curious ; the cuirass was made of 

 thin plates sliced from the hoofs of horses, and sewed one upon 

 another ; this, with a short dagger, a spear, and arrows pointed 

 with poisoned fish bone, rendered them troublesome antagonists, 

 mounted as they were on powerful horses. 



CRISPVS . NOB . CAES. Bust, draped and laureated, 

 looking to right ; rev., an altar with a palm wreath on front, above 

 it another, in centre of which is VOT. ; on each side winged 

 figures making an offering. The legend appears to read : 

 VICTORIA . ILLVSTRIORIS . CAES. The letters are a 

 good deal battered, but this is no doubt the reading. Plate II. 

 No. 18. (Mr. Mottram.) 



This Csesar was son of Constantine the Great, by Minervina, 

 his first wife ; but through the false accusations of Faustina, 



Milner's "Church History," p. 209. 



