Electrotype of ‘The Arras Medallion'

Electrotype of ‘The Arras Medallion'

Etienne Bourgey, Electrotype of ‘The Arras Medallion,’ 1927, London, diam: 42 mm, weight: 36g, London, The British Museum.

Museum Description: “The reverse scene is visual shorthand to the events described in the panegyric (eulogy) for Constantius, performed during or not long after the celebrations of 1st March AD 297. (Nixon & Rodgers, 1994, 106) The invasion of Britain and defeat of Allectus is presented as the liberation of Britain (Panegyric of Constantius 9, 5-6). In the aftermath, Constantius's soldiers saved London from rampaging Barbarian mercenaries (Panegyric of Constantius 17, 1). They were the remnants of the rebel army who had become intent on looting the city (now that their paymaster Allectus was dead). Constantius arrives at London by a mixture of transportation (alighting on horseback from a ship). The legend proclaims Constantius as 'the restorer of the eternal light' [of Roman civilization to Britain] (see also Panegyric of Constantius 19, 2-3 for the idea of Constantius 'refreshing' Britain with the 'true light' of the empire).”

Obverse: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOBIL CAES

FL[AVIVS] VAL[ERIVS] CONSTANTIVS NOB[ILISSIMUS] CAES[AR]

[Marcus] Flavius Valerius Constantius, Most Noble Caesar

Reverse: REDDITOR LVCIS AETERNA LON[DINIUM] PTR (Trier Mintmark)

Restorer of the Eternal Light

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_B-11477

British Museum B.11477