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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Valentinian, post: 2712360, member: 44316&quot;]In ancient coins there are &quot;types&quot; and within types, varieties. There are no rules (only, as a ghostbuster would day, guidelines) to make the distinction. Perhaps if a collector has two coins with some similarity he or she might regard them as the same &quot;type&quot; if the difference is little enough that they are are regarded as duplicates in the collection. I was looking at my coins of Licinius (AD 308-324) today and found two with some similarities and some differences. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]612828[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]612829[/ATTACH] </p><p>Both are 19 mm.</p><p>Both have legend IMP LICINIVS AVG</p><p>Both have reverse central design VOT/XX in wreath</p><p>One has reverse legend DN LICINI INVICT AVG</p><p>The second has&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; DN LICINI AVGVSTI</p><p>The former is from Ticinum: RIC VII Ticinum 133, struck 320</p><p>The second is from Arles:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; RIC VII Arles 229, struck 321</p><p><br /></p><p>Are they the same type?&nbsp; Are they &quot;duplicates&quot;?&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>For me, the answer depends also on the obverse bust. The first is radiate, the second laureate.&nbsp; If these were second-century Roman coins that difference would be enough to make them different denominations, but surely not at this time? I think they are too similar to regard them as different denominations. </p><p><br /></p><p>For some of you, two coins of Licinius would be one too many (probably for some, <i>one</i> is one too many). For me, they are different and pose interesting questions to which I do not know the answer (e.g. When did the radiate crown begin to fail to distinguish denominations? Why was he &quot;INVICT[us]&quot; at Ticinum and not at Arles?)&nbsp; They are not duplicates; they are keepers. </p><p><br /></p><p>Show us two coins with similarities but which are enough different that, to you, they are different and both keepers.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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