Licinius 308 - 324 A.D.
| Coin Description |
Licinius I, AE 21mm, Grade
??, The coin is well centered, and shows great detail especially on the
reverse where u can even see the dots in between the wavey lines on Sol
's robe , the sharpness of the strike fades somewhat towards the edges
on the reverse giving a thin but still legible exergue. |
| Obverse | The portrait is of Licinius a laureate bust facing right. The legend reads IMP C LIC LICINNIVS PF AVG meaning: IMP (Imperator = the Emperor / supreme military commander)C LIC LICINNIVS (his name Gaius Licinianus Licinius) PF (Pius Felix / Dutiful and Wise) AVG (Augustus which defines him as being the emperor). |
| Reverse | The reverse shows Sol standing left in a long well decorated robe, right hand raised and with the left hand holding the head of Serapis. With Serapis being (amongst others) a fertility god and the modius symbolizing the bounty of the earth (grain) Sol carrying the Serapis head might mean that Sol gives us this fertility and bounty of grain. The legend reads SOLI INVICTO meaning: the unconquered / invincible Sun. |
| Mint | The exergue reads ANT meaning: (Antioch) There is an S in the left field which indicates the sixth (sigma) officina of the Antioch mint. There is a star in the right field. |
| The Entire Story | The entire story of this coin would read: Our supreme commander of the army Gaius Licinianus Licinius the dutiful and wise Augustus dedicates this coin to the invincible Sol the companion of the emperor who brings us a plenty of grain (showing the emperor has Sol's divine favor). |
