Licinius I- Soli Invicto Comiti

Licinius I, 11 November 308 - 18 September 324 A.D.

Obverse:Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right
IMP LICINIVS PF AVG

IMP: Imperator
LICINIVS: Licinius
P F: Pius Felix
AVG:Augustus

Reverse:
SOLI INVICTO COMITI

SOLI: Sol
INVICTO: Undefeatble
COMITI:??

Showing: Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe, chlamys across left shoulder, S - F across fields.

Domination: Follis, Copper, size 19 mm

Mint: R * S, R (Rome) S (Secunda Oficina). There is a star between R and S.

Alternately ally and adversary of Constantine was Licinius
(Augustus 308-324 AD). Licinius controlled the East but was
represented also on coins from Constantine's western mints.

IMPLICINIVS PF AVG is just one of several legend varieties found for this ruler but all will include the title Augustus. Sol, the unconquerable sun god and comrade of the emperor (SOLI INVICTO COMITI), was most popular in the years immediately preceding the conversion of the Empire to Christianity. He is shown as a nude male wearing a radiate crown and holding a globe. The mintmark PARL combines the workshop letter P (primus) and the first three letters of the mint name. Code letters in the field (here SF) identify the issue (therefore date) of the coins. While some mint/issue combinations are rare and desired by specialists, Sol coins are generally very common.