Constantine the Great had been directed in a vision to fight his battles under the Christogram symbol, XP, the chi-rho, the first two letters in the Greek word for Christ. This symbol was frequently displayed on coins of emperors thereafter, sometimes being the major design feature. This is the first coin to use it as the basic design for one side. To the sides of the XP are an alpha and omega naming Jesus as the First and the Last, the Beginning and End, and therefore God himself. Such symbols helped indicate that Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire.
[SR 4022]

Back, Next
or general topics:
Home, B.C., Birth of Jesus, Bible coins, Other Gospel topics, Book of Acts, Nero, Jewish Revolt, Revelation, Official Christianity, Byzantine, Contrast, Details