EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE Valens AD 364-378 AE3 Nummus /Rev.Christian Chi-Rho NGC (7)

Reverse: Emperor walking right, head left,
grasping bound captive at the top of the head with right hand and holding
labarum with left hand.

Mintmark in exergue.



The labarum was a vexillum (military standard) that displayed the "Chi-Rho"
symbol ☧, a christogram formed from the first two Greek letters of the word
"Christ" (Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) - Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ). It was first used
by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag
suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize the
crucifixion of Christ.



Ancient sources draw an unambiguous distinction between the two terms "labarum"
and "Chi-Rho", even though later usage sometimes regards the two as synonyms.
The name labarum was applied both to the original standard used by Constantine
the Great and to the many standards produced in imitation of it in the Late
Antique world, and subsequently.



The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by some
Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi
and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = KRistos = Christ in such a way to
produce the monogram. Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho
invokes the authority of Jesus, as well as symbolising his status as the Christ.



The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin,
a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho
standing for chrēston, meaning "good." Some coins of Ptolemy III Euergetes (r.
246-222 BC) were marked with a Chi-Rho.



The Chi-Rho symbol was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I (r. 306-337) as
part of a military standard (vexillum), Constantine's standard was known as the
Labarum.