The ancient Romans developed a coin making technique which is still used today, known as minting. The blacksmiths would either use cold or hot sheets of metal to create the coin and then heavy bronze or iron stamps to impress the details of the coin onto the metal body. It was thought to be a two or three person job. The images typically shown on the coin would be the profile of the emperor or someone from his family, or a notable leader. The profile image of their head would also be surrounded with letters usually detailing the name of the person on the coin and the date that the coin was made. On the obverse side the scene shown was typically showing a significant battle or religious scene.
This particular coin depicts the profile of Constantine II, deciphered from the legend on the obverse and reverse. He was the second son of the infamous Emperor, Constantine the Great. He was given the title of Caesar by his father in AD 317, 20 years prior to his death. When Constantine I died, his great Empire was divided between his sons; Constantine II, Constantius and Constans. Constantine II originally ruled the provinces of Britain, Gaul and Spain. He died fighting his brother Constans for full control of the Empire.