Sirmium

Sirmium (Diœcesis Pannoniarum, province of Pannonia Inferior)

Coinage
About Sirmium...
Map

204-148

(click image to see larger picture)

Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Sirmium, 324-325

obv.- CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate bust right

rev.- SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing right, SIRM in exergue

RIC VII Sirm 48

19mm; 3.1g; follis

Commemorates Constantine’s victory over the Sarmatians in AD 322. One of my favorite portraits, with great reverse detail.

204-169

(click image to see larger picture)

Constantine II caesar

—struck by Constantine I

Sirmium, 324-325

obv.- CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; Laureate draped cuirassed bust right

rev.- ALAMANNIA DEVICTA; Victory right, holding trophy and palm, foot on captive below; •SIRM• in ex

RIC VII Sirm 51

19mm; 2.9g; follis

Struck to commemorate the victories won over by the Germans on the Rhine frontier by Constantine's sons, complementing the SARMAT DEVICTA type struck for Constantine, celebrating his victory over the Sarmatians. Struck only at Sirmium.

The Balkan mint of Sirmium was open for a short period from 320–325. The need for an additional mint in this area during this period was no doubt necessitated by the heightened military activity because of the wars with Licinius and Constantine's residence in the area. The striking of bronze coins only began in 324, and coincided with the introduction of the new reverse designs shown on this page.

The opening of the Constantinople mint in 326 (not to mention the elimination of military activities with Licinius) no doubt made the Sirmium mint unnecessary. However, the Sirmium mint became very active again in the later part of the 4th century.

Sirmium exists today as the town of Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia. Go here to see a great multimedia history.

Timeline

c5000 BC — Settlement is founded on site.

c385 BC — Part of Illyrian kingdom.

c30 AD — Romans establish province of Pannonia.

c90 — Promoted to status of Roman colony, Colonia Flavia Sirniensium.

103—Capital of new province of Lower Pannonia.

250 — Maximianus born in Sirmium (one of six Roman emperors born here).

293 — Becomes one of Galerius' two main capitals (with Serdica).

303—Seventy martyrs slain during Christian persecution.

304 — Irenaeus, first Bishop of Sirmium, is martyred by local governor.

357 — Council of Sirmium achieves compromise on Arian controversy; which, alas, proves temporary...

c380 — Conquered by Goths.

441 — Conquered by Huns.

536–567 — Capital of Gepid kingdom under Cunimund. This is interesting mostly because the real war between Cunimund and the Lombard king Albion is recalled in a JRR Tolkein story, The Long Road, as part of the pre-history of Middle Earth.

579-582 — Conquered by Avars and destroyed. Disappears from historical record for 200 years.

830 —Under control of Bulgarian kingdom.

870—Pope Hadrian II creates Archdiocese of Moravia and Pannonia with see at Sirmium; appoints Methodius archbishop.

1019 — Part of Romaion empire again. Passes between Romaion empire and Hungary for next two centuries.

July 8, 1167 — Battle of Sirmium. Sirmium is reunited, briefly, with Romaion empire, until 1180, when it passes to Hungary for good.

1521 — Conquered by Turks; part of Ottoman empire.

1718 — Passes to Austrian empire as part of Treaty of Pozarevac.

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History of ancient Sirmium Sremska Mitrovica official home page. Pictures of ruins of ancient Sirmium at Sremska Mitrovica Go to mint... Alexandria Antioch Aquileia Arelate Carthage Constantinople Cyzicus Heraclea Londinium Lugdunum Nicomedia Ostia Rome Serdica Sirmium Siscia Thessalonica Ticinum Treveri Find emperor... Diocletian Maximianus Galerius Galeria Valeria Constantius I Domitius Domitianus Maximinus II Severus II Constantine I Maxentius Licinius Carausius/Allectus Family of Constantine & Licinius	Sirmium (Diœcesis Pannoniarum, province of Pannonia Inferior) Coinage About Sirmium... Map 204-148 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine I augustus —struck by Constantine I Sirmium, 324-325 obv.- CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate bust right rev.- SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing right, SIRM in exergue RIC VII Sirm 48 19mm; 3.1g; follis Commemorates Constantine’s victory over the Sarmatians in AD 322. One of my favorite portraits, with great reverse detail. 204-169 (click image to see larger picture) Constantine II caesar —struck by Constantine I Sirmium, 324-325 obv.- CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; Laureate draped cuirassed bust right rev.- ALAMANNIA DEVICTA; Victory right, holding trophy and palm, foot on captive below; •SIRM• in ex RIC VII Sirm 51 19mm; 2.9g; follis Struck to commemorate the victories won over by the Germans on the Rhine frontier by Constantine's sons, complementing the SARMAT DEVICTA type struck for Constantine, celebrating his victory over the Sarmatians. Struck only at Sirmium. The Balkan mint of Sirmium was open for a short period from 320–325. The need for an additional mint in this area during this period was no doubt necessitated by the heightened military activity because of the wars with Licinius and Constantine's residence in the area. The striking of bronze coins only began in 324, and coincided with the introduction of the new reverse designs shown on this page. The opening of the Constantinople mint in 326 (not to mention the elimination of military activities with Licinius) no doubt made the Sirmium mint unnecessary. However, the Sirmium mint became very active again in the later part of the 4th century. Sirmium exists today as the town of Sremska Mitrovica in Serbia. Go here to see a great multimedia history. For map image only: This material originated on the Interactive Ancient Mediterranean Web site (http://iam.classics.unc.edu). It has been copied, reused or redistributed under the terms of IAM's fair use policy. Copyright 1998, Interactive Ancient Mediterranean.	Timeline c5000 BC — Settlement is founded on site. c385 BC — Part of Illyrian kingdom. c30 AD — Romans establish province of Pannonia. c90 — Promoted to status of Roman colony, Colonia Flavia Sirniensium. 103—Capital of new province of Lower Pannonia. 250 — Maximianus born in Sirmium (one of six Roman emperors born here). 293 — Becomes one of Galerius' two main capitals (with Serdica). 303—Seventy martyrs slain during Christian persecution. 304 — Irenaeus, first Bishop of Sirmium, is martyred by local governor. 357 — Council of Sirmium achieves compromise on Arian controversy; which, alas, proves temporary... c380 — Conquered by Goths. 441 — Conquered by Huns. 536–567 — Capital of Gepid kingdom under Cunimund. This is interesting mostly because the real war between Cunimund and the Lombard king Albion is recalled in a JRR Tolkein story, The Long Road, as part of the pre-history of Middle Earth. 579-582 — Conquered by Avars and destroyed. Disappears from historical record for 200 years. 830 —Under control of Bulgarian kingdom. 870—Pope Hadrian II creates Archdiocese of Moravia and Pannonia with see at Sirmium; appoints Methodius archbishop. 1019 — Part of Romaion empire again. Passes between Romaion empire and Hungary for next two centuries. July 8, 1167 — Battle of Sirmium. Sirmium is reunited, briefly, with Romaion empire, until 1180, when it passes to Hungary for good. 1521 — Conquered by Turks; part of Ottoman empire. 1718 — Passes to Austrian empire as part of Treaty of Pozarevac.
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