CONSTANTINE II, as Caesar
AD 316-337
AE3. 2.97g, 18mm
MINTED: Trier mint, AD 323-324
REF: RIC VII Trier 441
OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate bust right.
REVERSE: CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around a wreath, encircling VOT/X; STR crescent in exergue.

Notes:
Attractive two-tone surfaces. 
The inscription "VOT" stands for "vota", which is the Latin word for "vows". The number following the VOT abbreviation indicates the number of years for which the emperor had vowed to perform sacrifices to the gods in exchange for their continued favor. For example, a coin with the inscription "VOT X" would mean that the emperor had vowed to perform sacrifices for ten years.
 
The custom of taking vows for the health of the emperor began in the early Roman Empire and continued until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. The vows were usually made on the emperor's birthday, accession day, or other important anniversaries. They were accompanied by sacrifices, prayers, and public celebrations.
 
Historical Notes:
Raised to be a soldier, Constantine Junior was accompanying his father on military campaigns when he was just seven years old, and by the time he was fifteen, he was named magister militum (commander of the army) on the battle field while Constantine was fighting the Goths.  When Constantine the Great died in AD 337, his three surviving sons divided the empire amongst themselves.  Constantine Junior, the eldest, received the provinces of Spain, Britain, and Gaul.  He was, however, not pleased with his own share of the inheritance and was soon invading the territories of his youngest brother, Constans.  In AD 340, near Aquileia, an advance party of Constan's troops caught Constantine by surprise and he was killed in the fighting.