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NYINC Signature Sale 3106 17-18 Jan 2023
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Ancients
Licinius I (AD 308-324). AV aureus (20mm, 5.22 gm, 6h). Choice XF, repaired. Siscia, AD 316. LICINIVS-AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Licinius I right / IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing facing, head left, nude but chlamys draped behind over both shoulders, thunderbolt in right hand, scepter grounded in left; eagle standing left, head reverted at feet to left, X in right field, SIS in exergue. Unlisted in standard references. Cf. Calicó 5119 (chlamys style and reverse legend). Cf. RIC VII 20 (same). Mild evidence of repairs, thus ineligible for encapsulation. However, this rare piece boasts remarkably sharp details and an unusual chlamys style not often seen on this reverse type.
Ex VIA GmbH, Auction 1 (23 November 2021), lot 88; Gitbud & Naumann Auction 26 (14 December 2014), lot 777
Gaius Valerius Licinianus Licinius was born in the early AD 260s. Like many other young men of low birth, he joined the Roman Army and rose quickly through the ranks. During his career he befriended Galerius, who became Caesar in AD 293, and then Augustus upon Diocletian's retirement in AD 305. At the Conference of Carnuntum in November, AD 308, Galerius appointed him as Augustus in place of the deceased Severus II, thus leapfrogging the legitimate Caesars Constantine I and Maximinus II. The death of Galerius in AD 311 left four men claiming the supreme title of Augustus: Licinius in the Balkans, Maxentius in Italy, Constantine I in Gaul and Britain, and Maximinus II in Asia Minor and Egypt. Another round of civil wars in AD 312-313 saw Constantine defeat Maxentius and Licinius victorious over Maximinus. Licinius launched a massacre of all potential rivals, including Maximinus' children, Galerius' son, and Diocletian's daughter. Yet he grudgingly accepted Constantine's edict of toleration toward Christians and came to a modus vivendi with his western counterpart. Tensions rose, with a final civil war erupting in AD 324. Constantine landed a series of crushing blows, and Licinius retreated with the remnants of his army to Nicomedia for a final stand. His wife Constantia intervened and negotiated an honorable surrender. Constantine at first allowed him to retire to Thessalonica, but executed him in AD 325. Although Licinius was a competent soldier and administrator, his many murders paint him as an unattractive character. The image of Jupiter on the reverse of this aureus shows his devotion to the traditional gods of Rome, while in the West Constantine's coinage was already beginning to show Christian influence.
SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-licinius-i-ad-308-324-av-aureus-20mm-522-gm-6h-choice-xf-repaired/a/3106-33306.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3106-01172023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Licinius I (AD 308-324). AV aureus (20mm, 5.22 gm, 6h). Choice XF, repaired. Siscia, AD 316. LICINIVS-AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Licinius I right / IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing facing, head left, nude but chlamys draped behind over both shoulders, thunderbolt in right hand, scepter grounded in left; eagle standing left, head reverted at feet to left, X in right field, SIS in exergue. Unlisted in standard references. Cf. Calicó 5119 (chlamys style and reverse legend). Cf. RIC VII 20 (same). Mild evidence of repairs, thus ineligible for encapsulation. However, this rare piece boasts remarkably sharp details and an unusual chlamys style not often seen on this reverse type.
Ex VIA GmbH, Auction 1 (23 November 2021), lot 88; Gitbud & Naumann Auction 26 (14 December 2014), lot 777
Gaius Valerius Licinianus Licinius was born in the early AD 260s. Like many other young men of low birth, he joined the Roman Army and rose quickly through the ranks. During his career he befriended Galerius, who became Caesar in AD 293, and then Augustus upon Diocletian's retirement in AD 305. At the Conference of Carnuntum in November, AD 308, Galerius appointed him as Augustus in place of the deceased Severus II, thus leapfrogging the legitimate Caesars Constantine I and Maximinus II. The death of Galerius in AD 311 left four men claiming the supreme title of Augustus: Licinius in the Balkans, Maxentius in Italy, Constantine I in Gaul and Britain, and Maximinus II in Asia Minor and Egypt. Another round of civil wars in AD 312-313 saw Constantine defeat Maxentius and Licinius victorious over Maximinus. Licinius launched a massacre of all potential rivals, including Maximinus' children, Galerius' son, and Diocletian's daughter. Yet he grudgingly accepted Constantine's edict of toleration toward Christians and came to a modus vivendi with his western counterpart. Tensions rose, with a final civil war erupting in AD 324. Constantine landed a series of crushing blows, and Licinius retreated with the remnants of his army to Nicomedia for a final stand. His wife Constantia intervened and negotiated an honorable surrender. Constantine at first allowed him to retire to Thessalonica, but executed him in AD 325. Although Licinius was a competent soldier and administrator, his many murders paint him as an unattractive character. The image of Jupiter on the reverse of this aureus shows his devotion to the traditional gods of Rome, while in the West Constantine's coinage was already beginning to show Christian influence.
SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-licinius-i-ad-308-324-av-aureus-20mm-522-gm-6h-choice-xf-repaired/a/3106-33306.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3106-01172023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved