Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XX 29-30 Oct 2020
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Licinius I AV Aureus. Serdica, AD 313-314. LICINIVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, chlamys over left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; eagle at feet to left, holding wreath in its beak, N in right field, •SER• in exergue. RIC 3; Depeyrot 11/2; C. 106; Alföldi 243; Calicó 5126a (this coin). 5.15g, 20mm, 11h.
Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
This coin published in X. Calicó, Los Aureos Romanos (2002);
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 85, 26 November 2009, lot 931;
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 24, 9 December 1992, lot 476;
Ex Virgil M. Brand Collection, Sotheby's, 9 September 1983, lot 453;
Ex Raffaele Garucci (1812-1885) Collection, Dr. Jacob Hirsch, Auction XXXIV, 5 May 1914, lot 1553.
The date on which this coin was struck marks the beginning of a severe deterioration in the relations between its obverse subject the emperor Licinius and his co-emperor Constantine. Having originally become emperor during the rule of the Tetrarchy in 308, he and Constantine had redesigned the rule of the empire to fall under the power of just two Augusti in 312. This had been prompted by the other two tetrarchs, Maxentius and Maximinus Daia, forming a covert alliance against them; they were defeated on the field by Constantine and Licinius respectively in 312 and 313. It seems, however, that this period of uncertainty and military rivalry was not concluded by the overhauling of the tetrarchy and was instead a preconfiguring of what was still to come.
There is notable irony in the fact that this coin was minted in Serdica, the very same mint that issued coins of the SOLI COMITI AVGG NN type (RIC 4), which were intended to underline the unity and cohesion of the two emperors, at a time when the empire was once again threatened by a divisive civil war. On the thinnest of pretexts, relating to Licinius allegedly harbouring an individual who had plotted to overthrow Constantine, war broke out and in 314 Licinius was defeated at the battle of Cibalae. He was once again overwhelmed in 315 at the battle of the Campus Ardiensis, after he had attempted to replace Constantine as his co-emperor with Valerius Valens.
There followed a short period of relative peace, which was interrupted in 321 when Constantine routed a band of Sarmatians (against whom Licinius has been pursuing an ongoing campaign since 318) into a region of the empire under Licinius' control, heightening tensions between the two. These tensions reached breaking point when Constantine again pursued enemies into Licinius' territories in 323, resulting in Licinius' declaration that their treaty had been broken and all out war ensued. A series of battles were fought, in which Licinius was emphatically defeated on both land and sea and culminated in Constantine's decisive victory at the Battle of Chrysopolis in 324; thus Constantine assumed sole control of the empire.
The differences between the two combatants were starkly characterised in their choice of symbolism. Whereas Constantine chose to highlight his monotheistic credentials by using the Chi-Rho symbol on his military standards (a style of standard which became its own distinct category, known as a labarum), Licinius instead reinforced his connection to ancient Roman tradition and continued to use 'pagan' motifs on both his coinage, as in this example, and on his military standards. The depiction of Jupiter standing on this coin is typical of Licinius' earlier issues; this imagery evolved into an enthroned format in later issues (as exemplified in the next lot); the overall impact, however, remains the same. His consistent use of traditional Roman iconography, particularly that of Jupiter where is coinage is concerned, can be seen to be as much motivated by his desire to create clear distinctions between himself and his opponent, Constantine, as a reflection of his true religious beliefs.
Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
This coin published in X. Calicó, Los Aureos Romanos (2002);
From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 85, 26 November 2009, lot 931;
Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 24, 9 December 1992, lot 476;
Ex Virgil M. Brand Collection, Sotheby's, 9 September 1983, lot 453;
Ex Raffaele Garucci (1812-1885) Collection, Dr. Jacob Hirsch, Auction XXXIV, 5 May 1914, lot 1553.
The date on which this coin was struck marks the beginning of a severe deterioration in the relations between its obverse subject the emperor Licinius and his co-emperor Constantine. Having originally become emperor during the rule of the Tetrarchy in 308, he and Constantine had redesigned the rule of the empire to fall under the power of just two Augusti in 312. This had been prompted by the other two tetrarchs, Maxentius and Maximinus Daia, forming a covert alliance against them; they were defeated on the field by Constantine and Licinius respectively in 312 and 313. It seems, however, that this period of uncertainty and military rivalry was not concluded by the overhauling of the tetrarchy and was instead a preconfiguring of what was still to come.
There is notable irony in the fact that this coin was minted in Serdica, the very same mint that issued coins of the SOLI COMITI AVGG NN type (RIC 4), which were intended to underline the unity and cohesion of the two emperors, at a time when the empire was once again threatened by a divisive civil war. On the thinnest of pretexts, relating to Licinius allegedly harbouring an individual who had plotted to overthrow Constantine, war broke out and in 314 Licinius was defeated at the battle of Cibalae. He was once again overwhelmed in 315 at the battle of the Campus Ardiensis, after he had attempted to replace Constantine as his co-emperor with Valerius Valens.
There followed a short period of relative peace, which was interrupted in 321 when Constantine routed a band of Sarmatians (against whom Licinius has been pursuing an ongoing campaign since 318) into a region of the empire under Licinius' control, heightening tensions between the two. These tensions reached breaking point when Constantine again pursued enemies into Licinius' territories in 323, resulting in Licinius' declaration that their treaty had been broken and all out war ensued. A series of battles were fought, in which Licinius was emphatically defeated on both land and sea and culminated in Constantine's decisive victory at the Battle of Chrysopolis in 324; thus Constantine assumed sole control of the empire.
The differences between the two combatants were starkly characterised in their choice of symbolism. Whereas Constantine chose to highlight his monotheistic credentials by using the Chi-Rho symbol on his military standards (a style of standard which became its own distinct category, known as a labarum), Licinius instead reinforced his connection to ancient Roman tradition and continued to use 'pagan' motifs on both his coinage, as in this example, and on his military standards. The depiction of Jupiter standing on this coin is typical of Licinius' earlier issues; this imagery evolved into an enthroned format in later issues (as exemplified in the next lot); the overall impact, however, remains the same. His consistent use of traditional Roman iconography, particularly that of Jupiter where is coinage is concerned, can be seen to be as much motivated by his desire to create clear distinctions between himself and his opponent, Constantine, as a reflection of his true religious beliefs.