Just bought this one and can do with a little help to fully attribute it. It's not in particularly brilliant condition to start with, but I know very little about the coinage of this particular time frame and the mints involved. The obverse is the radiate bust of Licinius I with the legend IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIUS PF AUG (which I think expands to `Imperator Caesar Valerius Licinianus Licinius Pius Felix Augustus) The reverse has Jupeter standing with an eagle at his feet and the legend reads `IOVI CONSERVATORI' (`Jupiter protects'). What I am unsure of is what looks to me like `X III' in the reverse right hand field, and SNNA in the reverse exergue. I'm sure the latter is the mint, but I know nada concerning same. Anyone clued up on these mint abbreviations?
Hello Ian SMNA stands for Sacra Moneta Nicomedia, officina A I'm just at work now, with no book of course. I will look for more when back home Cucumbor
Hello again, I've just checked out wildwinds and found a similar one but for the third officina (SMNgamma). See below http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/licinius_I/_nicomedia_RIC_vII_044.2.jpg The description is the following : Licinius I AE Follis. 321-324 AD. IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG, radiate draped & cuirassed bust right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left holding victory, eagle left, captive right, X/II gamma to right, SMNG in exergue And the reference is RIC VII # 44 As to know what the X and II gamma stand for, I really don't. But others on forum may Cucumbor
I'm not sure what the characters in the right field are either. I've read that some think they were some kind of control mark used by the mint. I've got a very similar coin from Heraclea & it has them too... Attribution: RIC 52 (RIC VII) Mint: Heraclea, SMHΔ Date: 321-324 AD Obverse: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINVS PF AVG, Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, nude but for chlamys over left shoulder, Victory on globe in right hand, eagle-tipped scepter in left, eagle with wreath at feet to left, captive to right X / IIΓ in right field, SMHΔ in exergue Size: 20.5mm Weight: 3.6 grams
Ian, According to Barry & Darling's website,the folli of Licinius and a few of his predecessors carried additional officina and maker's marks in the fields of the reverse and in rare cases,the obverse.Some mints,Nicodemia,Siscia,Antioch and Thessalonica often used them.Here's one that didn't from the latter (TES). Sorry about the blurry pic..it's late.
http://www.cachecoins.org/licinius.htm here is one on my Licinius coins..I want to get a helmeted licinius like bonediggers...
Chances are,if he is shown helmeted,It's Licinius II Note the double inscription...LICIN-LICINIVS (son-father) His father was killed by Constantine and Junior was forced into slavery.
