Late Roman coins can have some very striking portraits - but as we know they can also feature some crude artwork and some coins of very poor quality of manufacture. Lately I have really enjoyed looking for LRBs of good quality but also featuring some unusual portraiture - as the artwork slowly evolved (or devolved depending on your opinion) we see some very interesting coins. I am really warming to them and look forward to collecting more portraits that I believe are in good style - just very different from the first and second century coins I had previously been focused on. So a section of my collection will in time feature "The Rogues Gallery ..AKA.. LRBs Most Outrageous Portraits " ... so far a really enjoyable side project and one that is quite affordable in most cases - that adds to the fun! I've really enjoyed scouring VCoins and various auctions looking for potential targets... I think you will like (or hate?) my latest addition. I started with a Constantine: Things amped up a bit with this Licinius: My latest Licinius - we are nearing peak awesomeness !! haha - I love it!! The search is on to add to the Rogues gallery... Please post any LRBs with unusual portraits!!
Yeah, those are lovely. I like the humorous collection you are building. Very creative focus. Unfortunately all my LRB portraits are super realistic and well done, so no funky stuff to display.
Nice start! The portrait on your latest Licinius is indeed quite roguish. I look forward to seeing more as they come your way.
Your Licinius is clearly a Ren & Stimpy character! LOVE the coins and oober LOVE the thread idea. Here's a few of my "Emperors gone wild!" I'll start with fancy pants Max plus 2. MaximianusHerculius AD286-305.Cyzicus AntoninianusÆ 21mm., ,68g. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right / CONCORDIA MILITVM, the Emperor, laureate and in military attire, standing right, holding transverse sceptre in left hand, receiving Victoria with wreath from Jupiter, nude but for cloak, standing left, holding long sceptre in left hand, in centre field, Δ and in exergue, XXI dot. good very fine C 53; RIC 606. This one happens to be one of my favorite LR Emperors. Mainly due to the fact that he stood against the tied of Christianity when paganism was dying out, he was a beast mode warrior and due to the bizarre explanation for his death: Julian II As Caesar, AD 355-360. Æ Aquileia mint, 3rd officina. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right; M behind / Soldier standing left, holding shield and spearing fallen horseman; shield on ground to right; AQT(palm). RIC VIII 223; LRBC 940 And don't even get me started about Will O' the whispy beard here. Vetranio hasn't broken a razor yet so here uses some tried and true sadistic propaganda to prove his manliness: Vetranio 350 CE Æ Siscia mint, 5th officina. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Vetranioadvancing right, holding spear and globe, trampling on captive; ЄSIS. RIC VIII 296; LRBC 1182. Good VF, green patina.
Ok, I'll try to play.... My Constantine I looks very British, which is cool considering he is from the London Mint. He's always reminded me of an older Paul McCartney. What do you think? Do you see the similarity too? Sir Paul McCartney His Imperial Beatles Highness Ae. Follis London Mint Obverse: Bust of Paul McCartney facing right Reverse: John Lennon as Sol Invictus.
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 Odd portrait with Olive Oil from Popeye reverse CONSTANTINE I AE2 Follis OBVERSE: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding globe & sceptre, wreath left, E right, dot SM dot TS dot in ex. Struck at Thessalonica 312-313 AD 5.5g, 26mm RIC VI 50b
Bobblehead Maximian! Maximian, post-abdication, AD 305-306 Roman billon follis, 8.26 g, 25 mm, 1 h. Antioch, AD 305-306. Obv: D N MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG, laureate bust, right, wearing consular robes and holding branch and mappa. Rev: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG, Providentia standing right, extending right hand to Quies standing left, holding down-facing branch and resting on scepter; I in field between them, ANT: in exergue. Refs: RIC 77b, Cohen 489, RCV 13414.
@Sallent - I really love the LRBs you have shown lately .. really excellent examples that I would LOVE to have in my collection. I recently ordered Sear's Roman Coins and Their Values Vol. 4.. (284-337).. looking forward to having it in hand so I can look further into Licinius' coins and the mints that created these odd portraits.. also lots of oddities minted under Constantine, Galerius, Maximinus and many others.. (I call them oddities - but obviously they are not odd at all for the time).. I love the details... the portrait is so unique and stylized. I anticipate adding many more of this type to my collection. The coins are well made and the art is impressive to my eye...although unusual.. Will be a cool gallery!
