CONSTANTIUS II, as Caesar
AD 324-337
AE3. 2.9g, 19.8mm
MINTED: Arles mint, AD 328
REF: RIC VII Arles 323
OBVERSE: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left.
REVERSE: VIRTVS-CAESS, campgate with 5 rows, open doors, 4 turrets and star above; QCONST in exergue.

Grade/Notes:
Good Very Fine.  Excellent details beneath slightly rough, dark black patina.  Traces of underlying silvering.
Campgate types are amongst the most common of Late Roman Bronzes, but this interesting variety, depicting the campgate with open doors, were only struck at the mint of Arelate (Arles).  They are, as such, scarcer than the regular doorless campgates. 
 
Historical Notes:
Constantius II was the longest reigning of the three sons of Constantine the Great who had divided the Roman empire amongst themselves after his death in 337.  By 340, only Constantius and Constans remained.  In 350, the usurper Magnentius revolted against Constans and had been him assassinated.  Constantius went to war with Magnentius, defeated him in 353, and was left the sole ruler of the Roman empire.  With his cousins Gallus and Julian serving as Caesars, Constantius spent much of the next few years contending with raiding Alamanni, more usurpers, and an invasion by the Sassanian Empire.  His final challenge came when the legions under Julian revolted and declared him emperor, forcing Constantius to prepare for war against his own heir apparent.  Before their forces were able to meet, Constantius fell seriously ill and died of fever in Cilicia, after acknowledging Julian his successor.