Very recent pickup that I absolutely love. Many do not like the "Big Head/T-Rex arm" hilarity of these LRBs but they have really grown on me over the last year or so. I do not see this as a degradation of artistic talent but a gradual evolution of style - style and taste change over time as we see in all artistic works (architecture, paintings, music, etc). Victory's detail is very well done and the captive barbarian is shown as suitably subhuman.. all in very nice style. I see this as a very well designed coin created by an extremely talented artist. However I am no art historian so I am willing to stand corrected on all of these points. For new collectors you really can't go wrong purchasing Constantine era coins. You can obtain EF examples like this for $40 or less (although I do not know exactly how to define "EF" - but I can't see this coin being much better... maybe it's just "F"?). This is part of a little sub-collection I am working on showing the path to Constantine's sole rule. Below is the attribution provided by the seller... I do not see the "eagle-tipped sceptre" but I am investigating..... RIC VII 27 Antioch 317-320 OBV: IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, Diademed and mantled bust left, holding eagle-tipped sceptre REV: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and leaning on sceptre, captive to left, AI in right field, SMANT in exergue 20.45mm, 3.13 grams Please share your coins of Licinius..
Interesting one, @Clavdivs ! My favorite Licinius I: Licinius I, AD 308-324 Roman billon follis Antioch, AD 321-323 Obv: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and eagle-tipped scepter, another eagle to feet to left, captive seated on ground to right; X/IIΓ in field, right; SMANTS in exergue. Refs: RIC vii, p. 682, 35; Cohen 74; RCV 15225.
Nice coin @Clavdivs - definitely not an eagle tipped scepter which would look something like this: Here's the Licinius Jr. version of your coin. Licinius II, Caesar, A.D. 317-320. AE follis, Antioch mint, Obv: D N LICINIVS NOB CAES, laureate, draped bust of Licinius II left, holding scepter in right hand and mappa in left hand Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS, Jupiter, nude, chlamys draped across left shoulder, standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand and leaning on sceptre with left hand; to left, seated bound captive; Z in right field, in exergue SMANT. Size: 19.3mm, 2.35g Ref: RIC VII Antioch 29
I have two from Licinius. Why does his eye always look weird? Licinius I, AD 317-320 AE, Follis, 3.31g, 18.5mm; 12h; Cyzicus Obv: IMP LICI-NIVS AVG; laureate draped bust left holding mappa, orb, and sceptre Rev.: IOVI CONSSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing left with Victory on a globe and sceptre, wreath left, S right In Ex.: SMK Licinius I, AD 308 - 324 AE, Follis, 3.28g, 20mm; 11h; Heraclea mint AD 321-324 Obv.: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right Rev.: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder holding victor on globe and eagle tipped scepter, eagle with wreath in beak left, captive at feet right, XII Mu to right In Ex.: SMHΓ
Very nice example @Clavdivs Here is my pair of Licinius I and Constantine which I've shown before quite some time ago: Licinius I (AD 308-324), Æ2 Follis (21.07mm, 3.9g). Siscia mint, Officina 1, struck AD 315-316. Obv: IMP LIC LICINIUS P F AVG, laureate head right. Rev: IOVI CON_SERVATORI (to Jupiter the protector), Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe offering wreath in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left, eagle with wreath in beak at feet on left. A in right field, •SIS• in exergue. RIC VII SISCIA 17 Constantine I (AD 307-337), Æ2 Follis (21.68mm, 3.7g). Siscia mint, Officina 2, struck AD 315-316. Obv: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head right. Rev: IOVI CON_SERVATORI (to Jupiter the protector), Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe offering wreath in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left, eagle with wreath in beak at feet on left. B in right field, •SIS• in exergue. RIC VII SISCIA 15
Those are beautiful coins and it seems natural that they are paired together and in the same collection... excellent!!
Great thread...I see so many coins of Constantine, but not enough of his archrival. Here’s my Licinius, one of my favorite LRBs. Licinius, AE21, 317-320 AD RIC VII 27 Antioch IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, Diademed and mantled bust left, holding eagle-tipped scepter/ IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and leaning on sceptre, captive to left, S in right field, SMANT in exergue
Lovely coin!... same "eagle-tipped scepter" mentioned in the attribution. I just don't see it. What do you think??
My first ever coin of Licinius, and still a favorite. LICINIUS I AE Follis. 3.5g, 20.7mm. Nicomedia mint, AD 313-317. RIC VII 13. O: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle left, Α in right field, SMN in exergue. Ex Marcel Jungfleisch Collection (1879-1958) A scarcer Genius type. I love the cute fairy-like Victory in his hand. LICINIUS I AE Follis. 5.8g, 20.6mm. Antioch mint, AD 311-312. RIC VI Antioch 162 corr. (no eagle). O: IMP C LIC LICINNIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. R: GENIO AV-GVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding Victoriola and cornucopiae; star in left field, H in right field, ANT in exergue. Another Genius, this one not recorded in RIC for Licinius. LICINIUS I AE Follis. 5.91g, 26.5mm. Cyzicus mint, AD 308/9. NOT IN RIC, cf. RIC VI 42 (for Galerius). O: VAL LICINNIANVS LICINNIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. R: GENIO A-VGVSTI, Genius standing facing, head left, holding patera and cornucopiae; A in left field; MKV in exergue. Ex Maple Leaf Collection And my favorite, an early 'Jupiter standing' follis that clocks in at almost 7.5g, about double the weight of the later series of reduced folles. LICINIUS I Rare. AE Follis. 7.41g, 22.8mm. Nicomedia mint, circa AD 311. RIC VI Nicomedia 69a corr. (no eagle at feet). O: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG, laureate head right. R: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, chlamys hanging behind, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; A in right field, SMN in exergue. Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection (1853-1923)
It's a plain sceptre, not an eagle-tipped one. The description should read "laureate bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa in right hand, and globe and scepter in left." Your coin is RIC VII Antioch 27 var. (officina), as AI is not one of the twelve workshops listed in RIC for Licinius for this issue. Nice coin!
Nice addition! This is my Licinius coin. IMP LIC LICINIVS P F AVG IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN AE Follis Struck 312-313 At Thessalonica Mint 2,56g / 23mm. Ric 60
OBV. VAL.LICINVS.P.F.AVG: REV. GENIO.A-VGVSTI LAUR. HEAD RIGHT Genius stg. l. modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera, l. cornucopia. RICVI #30b.
This is my Licinius II coin, D.N.VAL.LICIN.LICINIVS.NOB.C: laur. and draped bust r., globe & sceptre in r. hand, mappa in l. hand. AE Follis struck at Heraclea mint between 318-320 A.D. RICVII #49.
That huge portrait on the OP coin is really neat. That really reminds me of the one I used to have. These are not great pictures, but that coin was one of my favorite <$20 purchases. Love the wispy little details in his beard, the patina, and that baleful gaze- on yours and mine both.
They are so similar in style that I have to wonder if the dies for our coins were engraved by the same artist, even though they are from different officinae at the Antioch mint.
Very interesting...I never understood the “eagle-tipped” description either, always looked like just a regular sceptre to me. Thanks!
Licinius I (308 - 324 A.D.) Æ3 O: IMP LICINIVS AVG, Laureate bust left wearing Imperial mantle and holding mappa, sceptre and globe. R: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, Campgate with 6 rows of bricks, Pellet in right field, SMHA in exe. 3.3g 19mm RIC VII Heraclea 29 (R2) Licinius II (317 - 324 A.D.) Æ3 O: DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C, helmeted, cuirassed bust left holding spear and shield. R: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and eagle-tipped sceptre, eagle with wreath left, captive right. X over II Mu in right field. Mintmark SMHB. Heraclea Mint 20mm 3.3g RIC VII Heraclea 54
Nice coins all! I've owned a lot of his coins over the years, but a few I couldn't give up... GENIO IMPERATORIS, Alexandria A nice early follis over 6g! SOL INVICTO COMITI, Rome IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN, Thessalonika GENIO POP ROM, Trier