Roman Coin ID

[jps]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody might be able to tell me what the coin posted below is. I have had it for quite a few years, but I'm not 100% sure what it is (I think possibly Licinus II?).

Any help would be great.

JPS

[PeterD]

I think it is a coin of Licinius I from the mint of Aquileia minted 320 AD

Obverse: Helmeted and cuirassed bust right. IMP LICINIVS AVG
Reverse: Standard inscribed VOT/XX with captive standing on either side. VIRTVS EXERCIT. In exergue AQS

Reference RIC VII Aquileia 59.

[jps]

Many thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure what it was but somebody had mentioned Licinius II to me a while back.

I have had a look at the web site you linked in the reply and couldn't find an example of the coin I have shown. The closest I could find was this coin:
"23510. Bronze AE 3, RIC VII 110, VF, weight 2.351 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 180o, Siscia mint, 320 A.D.; obverse IMP LIC-INIVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS EXERCIT, standard inscribed VOT / XX, flanked by a captive on each side, S left, F right, GSIS* in ex; scarce (RIC R3); $24.00 (€18.00) "

However the reverese is slightly different.

JPS

[PeterD]

Hi JPS,
Just for your information:
The AVG (=Augustus) at the end of the obverse inscription, indicates the more senior Licinius I. Licinius II would have been NOB CAES (=Noble Caesar).
The AQS in the exergue (bottom of the reverse) indicates the mint of Aquileia (and the S indicates the second workshop at that mint).
There are literally thousands of variations of late Roman bronze coinage out there. However there is one example of your coin on Wildwinds .

[jps]

Many thanks for the additional information about the coin. I have had a look at the Wildwinds wed site you mentioned and think the coin you talked about is this example:

http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/licinius_I/_aquileia_RIC_vII_059.jpg

However, I assume this is the coin as it has the code Aquileia RIC VII 59 but it would seem that the head is slightly different on my example. Is this because it is a later coin or something?

JPS

[PeterD]

In the days before machinery each die was hand-cut and therefore there will be differences between different dies. Each coin was individually hand-struck, so the centering and quality will also vary.