Santa Helena Coin

Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine I, is known as Saint Helena in Christianity and is also recognized by the coins minted in her name. Her name appears on coins as Flavia Helena, Flavia Julia Helena, and sometimes Elena. According to historical sources, Helena was born in Drepanon in 250 AD. Although she was divorced by her husband on the grounds that she did not come from a noble family, Helena gained the title of Empress when her son Constantine became emperor. In her later years, she embarked on a religious journey encompassing Syria, Palestine, and Jerusalem, during which she discovered relics believed to contain the true Cross. She also found other sacred objects belonging to Jesus and brought them back to Constantinople. Helena is known in history as the first archaeologist for this reason. During this pilgrimage, she visited Sille and had a church built bearing her name for the Christians who worshipped in cave churches. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Community, and the Lutheran Church all recognize her as a saint. Helena, who led a devout, charitable, and forgiving life, was given the title "Mother of the Christians" by the Fathers of the Council of Nicaea. After 31 BC, while Roman emperors took the title "Caesar Augustus," it became a tradition to give the title "Augusta" to the emperor's consort. Helena is considered the first person to receive this title, not as an emperor's consort, but through her son. Sources indicate that Helena was approximately 80 years old when she returned from Palestine. Since this journey is dated to between 326 and 328 BC, she was probably born between 246 and 249 BC. It is accepted that Helena died in Rome around 330 BC, with her son by her side.