Hi guys thought I'd share this new pick up..... I know Lic coins are not generally found to be that exciting, but after 25 years of world coin collecting, one of his coins was the first ever ancient I purchased way back in 2015 and led me into the ancients black hole! So will always have a soft spot for this rulers coinage... I've been slowly picking off the Heraclea Thrace RICVII #15 Campgates of Licinius I..... Here is the latest win 25$... a 2nd workshop HTB Licinius I AE3.19mm/2.67gr Obverse..IMP LICINIVS AVG, laureate draped bust left holding globe, sceptre and mappa. Reverse..PROVIDENTIAE AVGG, campgate with three turrets and no door, 7 layers... Mintmark HTB 2nd oficina. RIC VII Heraclea Thrace 15; Sear 15264. Here now are the first 3 oficinas..As far as I can tell there are 2 left 4th oficina Delta and 5th oficina Epsilon unless anyone knows of any variants or I'm missing something? Show us your Licinius campgates....
Licinius I (308 - 324 A.D.) Æ(S)3 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 I AE3 Follis OBVERSE: IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding globe, sceptre & mappa REVERSE: PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with three turrets, no door, delta in right field SMHA in ex. Struck at Heraclea 318-320 AD 3.0g, 18mm RIC VII 48
Great coins! @Mat..Nice find always difficult to acquire this rarer type with single pellet. @gogili..Thats one I'm after and has really good detail.. @Bing..Very nicely detailed coin..I have one of these and its interesting how the right field symbol differs....I always thought it was Lambda? Does anyone have a theory as to the meaning of the symbols in the right field? Control marks? Series? Licinius I AE3 Follis. AD 318-320....19mm....3.24gr some silvering remains. Obverse..IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding globe, sceptre and mappa Reverse.. PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with three turrets,6 laters, no door, Λ in right field. Mintmark SMHA. Heraclea mint 1st oficina RIC VII#48 (Note: RIC wrongly describes the bust as facing left.)
@dougsmit......Wow!.....That is one beautiful HT Delta! I haven't seen such a nice Lic campgate portrait where the engraver has captured such a realistic depiction of the emperor...Super coin thanks for sharing! I like the HT Epsilon too...Its one I'm looking for at the moment but they do seem to be more difficult to find? I also just read your page on Forum, very interesting. (ref Lambda) You quoted 'The issue is identified by the lambda (meaning??) in the right reverse field'. As you stated the Lambda is only used on Licinius I and Licinius II coins and not on the Constantine coinage. Do you think it could just simply indicate L for Licinius?
Field marks are usually officina marks or, in the case of your coin, a control/series mark to distinguish a specific emission from an earlier one.
I had never considered that as a possibility. Where are you located? If near one of the shows in the Eastern US that I attend, I'd be happy to show you these. The delta has been a favorite of mine for years and would be the last Licinius I would delete for the reasons you state. The epsilon is much more normal in style for Licinius IMO.
Some really nice examples from you all. I do not have any coins of Licinius but will eventually. I am trying to build a set around Constantine and Licinius is one of them.
here's another from my collection... This coin was purchased from the notorious Z on vcoins..2 seconds in distilled water and that 'desert' patina disappeared.... Licinius I AE3 Follis. AD 318-320. Obverse- IMP LICI-NIVS AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding globe, sceptre and mappa Reverse-PROVIDEN-TIAE AVGG, campgate with three turrets, no door,6 layers, Λ in right field. Mintmark SMHB RIC VII #48 ( Heraclea mint 2nd oficina) (Note: RIC wrongly describes the bust as facing left.)
At least he wasn't trying to cover up any flaws. The coin actually looks much nicer without the fake patina. It's quite a beauty. I wonder why he felt compelled to bury all that great detail under all that orange garbage. Perhaps he was trying to avoid getting a reputation for selling unaltered coins?
@gsimonel ....Yep really dont understand what he was trying to achieve? I bought the coin quite cheaply knowing the desert patina was added I seem to remember BobL running a thread on this subject of fake patinas at the same time. You can see the big bubbles above the portrait and under the chin...Almost like it was sprayed on..I knew there was nice detail under all that kak but was really surprised not to find a cover-up!...I would've paid a lot more for the coin as is than before!
