In Roman times, ships were controlled by a rudder in the form of a large steering oar that was pivoted or even held by hand over one side of the ship. Consequently, a rudder depicted on a coin will look like a large oar or paddle with a reinforcing rib down its middle (The rudder as we know it today, pivoted directly off the after part or stern of a ship in line with the keel did not appear until later). The rudder symbolized guidance and implied that the ruler was steering the course of the empire through the events of the world. The rudder was often displayed along with other visual metaphors such as a ship (Representing the empire as in the ship of state), a victory, a ship’s ramming prow, or a labarum. One popular Fourth Century reverse has the very oversized emperor standing on (in?) an oar - driven ship holding a labarum with Victory holding the rudder and guiding the ship. The words in the legend read FEL TEMP REPARATIO (The return of the good times) or RESTITVTOR REIP (restorer of the republic). The visual or iconographic message that could be "read" by any illiterate soldier or peasant was "Your holy, Christian, and pious emperor is in command of the empire (represented by the ship). Victory guides us through these perilous times."
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