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==Historical Evidence for Use of the Labarum==
[[Image:Maiorina-Vetranio-siscia RIC 281.jpg|right|thumb|Coin of [[w:Vetranio|Vetranio]]; (ca.350); a soldier is holding two labara. Interestingly they differ from the labarum of Constantine in having the Chi-Rho depicted on the cloth rather than above it, having their staves decorated with [[w:Phalera (military decoration)|phalerae]] as were earlier Roman military unit standards.]]
Historians contend that those two the accounts of Lactantius and Eusebius can hardly be reconciled with each other, though they have been merged in popular notion into Constantine seeing the Chi-Rho sign on the evening before the battle.
There is no certain evidence of the use of the letters chi and rho as a Christian sign before [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]]. Its first appearance is on a Constantinian silver coin from ca. 317, which proves that Constantine did use the sign at that time, though not very prominently.<ref>Smith, 104: "What little evidence exists suggests that in fact the labarum bearing the chi-rho symbol was not used before 317, when Crispus became Caesar..."</ref> He made extensive use of the Chi-Rho and the labarum only later in the conflict with Licinius.
Eusebius stated that in addition to the singular labarum of Constantine, other similar standards (labara) were issued to the Roman army. This is confirmed by the two labara depicted being held by a soldier on a coin of [[w:Vetranio|Vetranio]] dating from 350.
The Labarum marked with the monogram of [[Christ]] is seen on coins of Constantine the Great, also of Constans, of Jovianus, and of Valentinianus, to the end of the [http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Imperial%20Series imperial series].<ref>''[http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=labarum Labarum].'' '''Numiswiki: The Collaborative Numismatics Project.'''</ref>
==Later Usage==