AE Follis, A.D. 350-355, Antioch, 24.2mm, 5.83g, 165°, RIC VIII 132.
Obv: D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: FEL TEMP REPARATIO. Soldier spearing fallen horseman; Γ in left field, ANZ in ex.
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Flavius Julius Constantius, commonly known as Constantius II, was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death. In 340, Constantius' brothers fought over the western provinces of the empire. Constans defeated his brother and ruled the west for a decade until the usurper Magnentius rebelled in 350. Constans was promptly assassinated, leaving Constantius as the only surviving son of Constantine. After defeating Magnentius, the usurper's subsequent suicide left Constantius sole ruler of the empire.

Constantius realised that too many threats still faced the Empire, and he could not possibly handle all of them by himself, so on 6 November 355, he elevated his last remaining relative, Julian, to the rank of Caesar. Not long after, Constantius sent Julian off to Gaul where he won some victories against the Alemanni tribe who had once again invaded Roman Gaul. Constantius requested reinforcements from Julian for his own campaign against Shapur II and the Sassanids. This resulted in the Gallic legions revolting and they proclaimed Julian Augustus. Because of the immediate Sassanid threat, Constantius was unable to directly respond to his cousin’s usurpation other than by sending missives by which he tried to convince Julian to resign the title of Augustus and be satisfied with that of Caesar. By 361, it became clear there was no alternative but to face the usurper with force.

Constantius immediately gathered his forces and set off west. However, by the time he reached Mopsuestia in Cilicia, he became gravely ill and would not survive to face Julian. Apparently, realizing his death was near, Constantius had himself baptised by Euzoius, the bishop of Antioch, and then declared that Julian was his rightful successor. Constantius II died of fever on 3 November 361.