A rare and museum-worthy coin of Licinius I is currently offered for sale. The obverse features a laureate head facing right with the legend FRONT/ IMP LIC LICINNS PF A VG. On the reverse, Jupiter is depicted standing left with a chlamys across his left shoulder, leaning on a scepter. He holds Victory on a globe in his right hand, and there is an eagle with a wreath to the left. The letter B is to the right, and dot SIS dot appears in the exergue. This coin was struck at the Siscia Mint in 315-316 AD. Reference: RIC VII Siscia 17, page 424. This coin is noted as VERY RARE, designated as R3. It measures 21mm in diameter and weighs 3.5 grams.
In dim lighting, its patina appears dark, but when you shine a light on it, the silver becomes more pronounced.
About Licinius I 308-324 AD
Licinius was a soldier and a friend of Galerius. When Diocletian implemented the Tetrarchy, Galerius became the emperor of the East and appointed his friend emperor of the West. Licinius shared the western realm with the usurper Maxentius, whom he was unable to expel. Later, his rival Constantine I succeeded in accomplishing this task. When Galerius died in 311, Licinius moved to the East, becoming Galerius's successor and leaving the West to be contested between Maxentius and Constantine.
Within another year, Constantine defeated Maxentius, and Licinius overcame the usurper Maximinus Daia. From then on, Licinius and Constantine would be on-again, off-again enemies. This was partly because Constantine was Christian while Licinius was pagan, and partly because each aspired to be the sole emperor. In the end, after several battles lost to Constantine, Licinius found himself on the run until he could no longer gather armies. He abdicated, and although pardoned, he was executed on trumped-up conspiracy charges sometime later.
Hardly any tears were shed for Licinius, as he was a cruel ruler with few redeeming qualities, in stark contrast to Constantine.
Notes
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