Constantine I the Great - The first christian Emperor of Rome

After the town of Byzantium became part of the Roman Emire under the reign of Vespasian (69-79 AD) the east of the Empire got more and more important during the following centuries. In 324 Constantine the Great decided to make Byzantium (now renamed as Nova Roma) the new capital. When it was officially proclaimed the new capital of the Roman Empire in 330 it was named Constantinopolis (City of Constantine). To commemorate the event, coins with the personification of Constantinopolis were struck. Other coins that honour the old capital Rome were minted at the same time.