TYPE Roman Empire, Theodora (second wife of Constantius I Chlorus, 293-306 AD), posthumous bronze AE4, struck 337-340
DESCRIPTION .
Obv: Diademed and draped bust of Theodora to right, legend: FL MAX THEODORAE AVG
Rev: Pietas with child in arms, legend: PIETAS ROMANA
REFERENCE: SR 3911
GRADING: VF+ / F+, dark patina, rev. earthen encrustation
ORDER INFO: R1356, $35
Dynastic rules for imperial matrimony show nowhere better than in the case of Constantius Chlorus, who upon assuming the rank of Caesar was forced to divorce his first wife Helena, and marry Maximianus' stepdaughter, Theodora. Even though the subsequent Constantinian dynasty descended from Helena, Constantine's sons, interestingly, did honor their grandfather's second wife in this unique issue where she appears.