Bing & JA => I thought you might be over-worked, so I posted the good ol' TWIH thread | The Online Coin Show This Week In History Constantine vs. Licinius October 8th, 316 AD By Zachary Beasley After Licinius defeated Maximinus Daia in 313, and added Asia and Egypt to all of his Balkan territories, he and Constantine the Great were the two remaining rulers of the Roman Empire. At first, they tried to cooperate and rule the empire with Licinius in the East and Constantine in the West, but the agreement they had was merely out of convenience and not because they truly wanted to co-rule. Tensions began immediately and both decided to create essentially a buffer zone in Rhaetia and Pannonia, managed by Bassianus, who was married to the sister of the wife of Licinius, and was also the half-brother-in-law to Constantine. Both saw this as fair, since his loyalty should be split evenly between the two emperors. However, Licinius managed to convince Bassianus to revolt in his favor in 315, causing Constantine to quickly leave the Rhine area and travel to Italy to deal with the situation. Constantine didn’t take any immediate action when deciding to confront the problems in the region, instead sending his half-brother, Julius Constantius, to meet with Licinius in Sirmium to discuss elevating Bassianus to Caesar, overseeing Italy. Licinius did not accept the proposal, and instead asked his brother to assassinate Constantine instead so they could rule the entire empire. The conspiracy was discovered, which led to the arrest and execution of Bassianus, and escalating hostilities finally erupting in the first Licinian War, in Autumn 316. Constantine invaded the Balkans and served a resounding defeat to Licinius on October 8, 316 AD at the Battle of Cibalae (modern day Croatia). This great battle was just the beginning of the civil wars between Licinius and Constantine – they fought for nearly a decade, until late 324 AD, when Constantine’s forces finally accepted the surrender of Licinius and Martinianus through Constantia, Licinius’s wife. Charles the Bald October 8th, 876 AD By Zachary Beasley Charles the Bald, the West Frankish king, was defeated by Louis the Younger, the East Frankish king, at the First Battle of Andernach, on October 8, 876. The resulting defeat not only stopped Charles from any more plans to extend his holdings into Middle Francia, but also forced him to flee to Italy, where he died a year later. The Rhineland area remained part of East Francia until it was absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire. ME271 - Carolingian Empire, Charles The Bald (840-877)... View Coin >
Thanks Steve. I've over-posted my coins of this era lately, but what the heck... Licinius I AE Follis, 21mm, 3.18g Siscia mint: 315-316. Obv.:IMP LIC LICINIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right. Reverse.: IOVI CON-SERVATORI; Jupiter standing facing, head left, nude but for chlamys across left shoulder, Victory on globe in right hand, scepter in left, eagle with wreath at feet to left; Γ in right field; • SIS • in exergue Reference: RIC VII, 17. Ex Harlan Berk, CICF Show, April 2013.
Since the article also mentions Maximinus Daia, here's a nice follis of his. I collected this piece for the interesting fruit detail in the cornucopia... Maximinus II as Augustus, AD 308-313 AE Follis, 21mm, 5.12g, 12h; Antioch mint: 312. Obv. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right, parallel laurel ties. Rev.: GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing facing, modius on head left, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, head of Sol in right hand, cornucopiae in left; star - A // ANT. Reference: RIC VI, Antioch 164b (p. 643).
One of my most prized coins of Constantine I. I had never seen such detail in the helmeted busts, so I went the extra mile to acquire this piece. It was worth every penny... Constantine I AE Follis, 19.5mm, 3.61g; Trier mint: 322-3 Obv.: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG; helmeted, cuirassed bust right. Rev.: BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS; Globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX, above, three stars // dot PTR dot. Reference: RIC VII Trier 368 (p. 197) Notes: ex-Langtoft hoard.
And one last favorite, scarce issue of Constantine... Constantine I, 272-337 AE Follis: 19mm, 2.62g, 6h; Constantinople Mint: 328 Obv: CONSTANTI-NVS MAX AVG; Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE; Dafne as Victory standing left on cippus holding palm branches, looking right, trophy in front, kneeling captive / A // CONS Reference: RIC VII, Constantinople 35 (p. 574) R3
LICINIUS I AE2 Follis OBVERSE: IMP LICINIVS P F AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust right REVERSE: GENIO POP ROM S-F, Genius standing left, modius on head, loins draped, holding patera & cornucopia, PLN in ex. Struck at London 313-4 AD 3.2g, 22mm RIC VII 3 CONSTANTINE I AE3 Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, diademed head right REVERSE: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with two turrets & no doors, star above, GSISdouble-crescent in ex. Struck at Siscia 328-9 AD 3.3g, 19mm RIC VII 215G MAXIMINUS II DAIA AE Follis OBVERSE: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: GENI-O-AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding head of Serapis and cornucopiae. X-A across fields; ALE in ex. Struck at Alexandria 312 AD 4.83g, 21mm RIC VI 149b Ex Spink
Ill post the Charles the Bald. Yeah its not even a whole coin but I got it for a steal and I got to play surgeon with it. Charles the Bald, Frankish (Carolingian) Empire AR Obol Obv: Monogram of Charles Rev: [+ M]ETVLLO around cross in circle Mint: Metallum, struck 840-877 AD Ref: MG 1060
i posted both of these fairly recently, but here is my favorite from constantine i and licinius again. i actually purchased these two coins together on a "forum" ebay auction. i don't have a coin of charles the bald. i am slowly but surely become chrsmat71 the bald however.
Good ol' Charles the Bald (aka => Cue-Ball Chuck) CAROLINGIANS. Charles le Chauve (the Bald), AR Denar 840-877 AD Diameter: 20 mm Weight: 1.56 grams Obverse: Without mint signature (Orléans). + CΛRLVS REX FR, cross pattée with pellet in each quarter Reverse: XPISTIΛNΛ RELIGIO, temple
Maximinus II AE Follis Date: 308 AD Diameter: 24.3 mm Weight: 8.2 grams Obverse: GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES - Laureate bust of Maximinus II Reverse: VIRTVS EXERCITVS - Mars in military dress, holding transverse spear, shield and trophy over shoulder. X in l. field, B/K in right field References: RIC 83 => oh, and since this is a holiday weekend for Canadians, I've chosen my festive holiday avatar (cheers!!)
Great coins, everyone! I was wondering how Charles the Bald wound up in a thread about Licinius and Constantine, then I bothered to read the whole essay. I didn't realize Zach Beasly wrote the "Week in History" blurbs. I've acquired some great coins from him - he's the real deal.
