Licinius was a soldier and friend of
Galerius. When
Diocletian put the
Tetrarchy into effect,
Galerius became emperor of the East and he named his friend
Maximian emperor of the
West. Licinius cohabited the
west with the usurper
Maxentius whom he was unable to expel; his own rival
Constantine I later getting the job done. When
Galerius died in 311 Licinius moved out East becoming
Galerius 's successor and leaving the
West to be squabbled between
Maxentius and Constantine. Within another year Constantine would defeat
Maxentius and Licinius the usurper
Maximinus Daia. From then on Licinius and Constantine would be on-again off-again enemies partly because Constantine was Christian while Licinius pagan and partly simply because each wished to be sole emperor. In the end several battles fought and lost to Constantine had him on the run until he could gather no more armies, abdicated and was soon found and executed.
Due to the lengthy reign, there are many coins available for this emperor. The bronzes are particularly common and were minted throughout the empire with the exception of brief intervals when various emperors withheld official recognition.
During his reign, the use of mintmarks becomes more systematic and complex. The assignment of various
mintmark elements is somewhat arbitrary but this catalog follows convention and will designate the use of wreaths and palms as
mintmark features while eagles and captives will be considered
part of the
reverse design.
The reverses featuring
Jupiter are the most commonly found.
Busts:
1)
Bare head right
2)
Bare head, draped and
cuirassed bust facing
3) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 4) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust right
5) Laureate
bust left, holding spear and
shield 6) Laureate
bust left, wearing consular robes, holding
scepter with
eagle atop
7) Laureate
head right
8) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left
9) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right
10) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding thunderbolt and
scepter 11) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
12) Laureate, draped
bust left, holding
mappa and globe
13) Laureate, draped
bust left, holding
mappa and
scepter on globe
14) Laureate, draped
bust left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter on globe
15) Laureate, draped
bust right
16) Laureate, draped
bust right, holding
scepter on globe and
mappa 17) Laureate, draped
bust right, holding spear over shoulder
18)
Radiate head right
19)
Radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
a)
Licinius I and
Constantine I facing each other, together holding up statue of
Fortuna, holding rudder and
cornucopia b)
Licinius I laureate, draped
bust right facing
Licinius II laureate, draped
bust left, together holding
trophy Obverses:
1)
DD NN IOVII LICINII INVICT AVG ET
CAES 2)
DD NN LICINIVS PF AVG ET LICINIVS
CAESAR 3)
IMP C LIC LICINIVS PF AVG
4)
IMP C LIC LICINNIVS PF AVG
5)
IMP C VAL LIC LICINIVS PF AVG
6)
IMP C VAL LIC LICINNIVS PF AVG
7)
IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG
8)
IMP C VAL LICINIAN LICINIVS PF AVG
9)
IMP C VALER LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG
10) IMP L LICINIVS PF AVG
11) IMP LIC LICINIVS F AVG
12) IMP LIC LICINIVS PF AVG
13) IMP LICINIVS AVG
14) IMP LICINIVS P AVG
15) IMP LICINIVS PF AVG
16) IMP LICINIVS
PIVS FELIX AVG
17) LICINIVS AVG
18) LICINIVS AVG OB D V FILII SVI
19) LICINIVS P AVG
20) LICINIVS
AVGVSTVS 21) LICINIVS PF AVG
22) VAL LICINIVS PF AVG
23) VAL LICINNIANVS LICINNIVS PF AVG
Reverses:
1) BONO GENIO P II IMPERATORIS
2)
COMITI AAVVGG
3)
CONCORDIA AVGG NN
4) CONSVL
DD NN 5) CONSVL PP
PROCONSVL 6) CONSVLI PP PRO COS
7) DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG
8) DN LICINI
AVGVSTI 9) DN LICINI INVICT AVG
10) DN LICINI MAX AVG
11) DOMINI N LICINI AVG
12)
FVNDAT PACIS 13)
GENIO AVGVSTI 14)
GENIO AVGVSTI CMH
15) GENIO CAESARIS
16)
GENIO IMPERATORIS 17)
GENIO POP ROM 18)
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI 19)
GLORIA EXERCITI
AVGG NN
20)
GLORIA PERPET 21) HERCVLI INVOCTORI
22)
I O M ET
FORT CONSER DD NN AVG ET
CAES 23)
I O M ET
VICT CONSER DD NN AVG ET
CAES 24)
I O M VIRTVTI DD NN AVG ET
CAES 25) IOVI
CONS LICINI AVG
26)
IOVI CONSERVATORI 27)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVG
28)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG 29)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN
30)
IOVI CONSERVATORI DD NN 31)
IOVI CONSERVATORI LICINIORVM AVG ET
CAES 32) LICINI AVG
33) LICINI
AVGVSTI 34)
MARTI CONSERVATORI 35)
ORIENS AVGG 36)
ORIENS AVGVSTORVM
37)
PERPETVA VIRTVS AVG 38) PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS
39) PRINCIPIS
PROVIDENTISSIMI 40) PROFECTIO
AVGG 41) PROVIDENTIAE
AVGG 42) PROVIDENTIAE
AVGG NN
43)
ROMAE AETERNAE 44)
SAECVLI FELICITAS 45)
SALVS AVGG NN
46)
SAPIENTIA PRINCIPIS 47)
SECVRITAS AVGG 48)
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE 49) SOLE INVICTO
50)
SOLI INVICTO 51)
SOLI INVICTO COMITI 52) SPQR
OPTIMO PRINCIPI 53)
VBIQVE VICTORES 54)
VICT LAETAE PRINC PERP 55)
VICTORIA AVGG NN 56)
VICTORIA LAET P P
57)
VICTORIAE LAET P P 58)
VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP 59)
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP 60)
VICTORIAE MAXIMINI AVG
61)
VIRT EXERC 62)
VIRTVS AVGG 63)
VIRTVS AVGG NN
64)
VIRTVS AVGVSTI 65)
VIRTVS EXERCIT 66)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS GALL 67)
VIRTVTI EXERCITI 68)
VIRTVTI EXERCITVS 69)
VOTA ORBIS ET
VRBIS SEN ET P R 70)
VOTIS V MVLTIS X 71) No
legend Types:
1)
Altar;
eagle atop,
shield to left, helmet to right and spear across in front.
2)
Arles to right, holding
scepter, receiving
cornucopia from
Victory to left, standing on galley prow.
3) City gate with (3) turrets
4) City gate with (4) turrets
5)
Cippus reading XX / XXX / MVL / FEL
6)
Concordia seated left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia.
7)
Concordia standing left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia.
8) Crossroads in shape of "X"; Sol at juncture, raising hand and holding globe.
9)
Fortuna standing to left, holding
cornucopia and rudder on globe, facing
Jupiter standing to right, holding
scepter and
Victory on globe.
10)
Genius standing left, holding
head of
Serapis and
cornucopia.
11)
Genius standing left, holding
head of Sol and
cornucopia.
12)
Genius standing left, holding
patera and
cornucopia.
13)
Genius standing left, holding
Victory and
cornucopia;
eagle to left.
14)
Genius standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
cornucopia 15)
Genius standing left, pouring out
patera and holding
cornucopia.
16)
Genius standing left, pouring out
patera and holding
cornucopia;
eagle to left.
17)
Genius standing left, sacrificing over
altar and holding
cornucopia.
18)
Genius standing left, sacrificing over
altar and holding
cornucopia;
eagle to left.
19)
Hercules standing right, resting hand on hip and on club with
lion skin.
20)
Jupiter advancing right, aiming thunderbolt.
21)
Jupiter riding
eagle standing right, holding thunderbolt and
scepter.
22)
Jupiter seated facing holding
scepter and
Victory on globe;
eagle to left with
wreath in beak.
23)
Jupiter seated facing on platform reading SIC X / SIC XX, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle with
wreath to left
24)
Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter.
25)
Jupiter standing left on platform reading SIC X / SIC XX, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle with
wreath to left.
26)
Jupiter standing left, holding globe and
scepter 27)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter 28)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter;
eagle to left
29)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter;
trophy with seated captive on either
side to left
30)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter.
31)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter; captive to left.
32)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle to left
33)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle to left and seated captive to right.
34)
Jupiter standing, facing, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle with
wreath in beak to left.
35)
Legend VO / TIS / XX
36)
Legend VOT / XX
37)
Licinius I riding
quadriga right, holding
scepter.
38)
Licinius I standing right, holding spear and globe.
39)
Licinius I standing right, holding spear and globe; seated captive on either
side.
40)
Licinius I standing, facing, holding globe and
scepter.
41)
Lion standing left, club above.
42)
Mars advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy with
shield.
43)
Mars advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy.
44)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
trophy.
45)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
trophy; seated captive on either
side.
46)
Mars standing left, holding
Victory on globe and spear with
shield 47)
Mars standing right, holding spear and resting hand on
shield.
48)
Roma seated left, holding
shield reading X / V
49)
Roma seated right, holding
shield reading X / V
50)
Salus standing left, feeding snake on
altar and holding
scepter.
51)
Securitas standing left, leaning on
cippus and with legs crossed, touching
head.
52)
Shield reading AVG on
cippus 53) Sol advancing left, stepping on captive, raising hand and holding globe.
54) Sol riding oncoming
quadriga, raising hand and holding globe with whip.
55) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe with whip.
56) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe.
57) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe; seated captive to left.
58) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding
head of
Serapis.
59) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding whip.
60) Sol standing right, holding raising hand and holding globe.
61) Standards (3)
62)
Trophy, seated captive on either
side 63)
Vexillum reading VOT / X; seated captive on either
side.
64)
Vexillum reading VOT / XX; seated captive on either
side.
65) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding
shield reading VOT / PR over
altar.
66)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
67)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm; seated captive to left.
68)
Victory standing right, holding
shield on
cippus reading VI / CTO / RIA / AVG
69)
Victory standing right, holding
shield on
cippus reading VOT / X / MVL / XX
70)
Virtus advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy with
shield.
71)
Wreath, SIC X / SIC XX within
72)
Wreath, VOT / V within
73)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVL / XX within.
74)
Wreath, VOT / XV / FEL / XX within.
75)
Wreath, VOT / XV FEL / XX within.
76)
Wreath, VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX within.
77)
Wreath, VOT / XX within
78)
Wreath,
VOT X / ET XV F within
Mints:
1)
Alexandria 2)
Antioch 3)
Aquileia 4)
Arelate 5) Cyzicus
6)
Heraclea 7) Londinium
8)
Lugdunum 9)
Nicomedia 10)
Ostia 11)
Roma 12)
Serdica 13)
Siscia 14)
Thessalonica 15)
Ticinum 16)
Treveri
AU Aureus Reference(s) 1) B02, O18, R25, T23, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 21 (VII,
Nicomedia)
2) B07, O20, R25, T25, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 18 (VII,
Nicomedia)
3) B07, O20, R26, T32, M09 Exe: SMN RIC 11 (VII,
Nicomedia)
4) B07, O20, R28, T28, M14 Exe: `/•SM•TS• RIC 44a (VI,
Thessalonica)
5) B07, O21, R26, T32, M13 Exe: X/SIS RIC 18 (VII,
Siscia)
6) B07, O21, R53, T39, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 817c (VI, Trier)
AE3 7) B04, O12, R65, T64, M14 Exe: S/F/•TS•`• RIC 76 (VII,
Thessalonica)
8) B04, O13, R65, T64, M03 Exe: S/F/AQ` RIC 51 (VII,
Aquileia)
9) B04, O13, R65, T64, M13 Exe: S/F over "/`SIS¦ RIC 129 (VII,
Siscia)
10) B04, O13, R65, T64, M13 Exe: S/F/`SIS* RIC 110 (VII,
Siscia)
11) B04, O13, R65, T64, M15 Exe: `*T RIC 123 (VII,
Ticinum)
12) B04, O13, R65, T64, M15 Exe: `T RIC 166 (VII,
Ticinum)
13) B04, O19, R65, T62, M16 Exe: •`TR RIC 259 (VII, Trier)
14) B07, O03, R16, T12, M01 Exe: K/` over P/ALE RIC 101b (VI,
Alexandria)
15) B07, O03, R28, T27, M02 Exe: `/ANT RIC 13 (VII,
Antioch)
16) B07, O03, R50, T58, M02 Exe: `/*/ANT RIC 167a (VI,
Antioch)
17) B07, O04, R13, T14, M02 Exe: */`/ANT RIC 162a (VI,
Antioch)
18) B07, O05, R26, T26, M06 Exe: =/SMHT`
19) B07, O05, R26, T26, M14 Exe: =/`/•SM•TS• RIC 49 (VI,
Thessalonica)
20) B07, O07, R13, T12, M05 Exe: `/SMK RIC 102a (VI, Cyzicus)
21) B07, O07, R13, T17, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 71a (VI,
Nicomedia)
22) B07, O07, R14, T15, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 66 (VI,
Nicomedia)
23) B07, O07, R26, T26, M06 Exe: =/HT` RIC 65 (VII,
Heraclea)
24) B07, O07, R26, T32, M05 Exe: `/SMK RIC 4 (VII, Cyzicus)
25) B07, O07, R26, T32, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 69a (VII,
Nicomedia)
26) B07, O07, R26, T32, M09 Exe: N over `/SMN RIC 15 (VII,
Nicomedia)
27) B07, O07, R28, T32, M01 Exe: = over ` over N/ALE RIC 10 (VII,
Alexandria)
28) B07, O07, R28, T32, M02 Exe: = over Г over III/ANT RIC 8 (VII,
Antioch)
29) B07, O07, R28, T32, M06 Exe: `/SMHT RIC 73 (VII,
Heraclea)
30) B07, O08, R28, T26, M06 Exe: =/`/SMHT RIC 68 (VI,
Heraclea)
31) B07, O12, R13, T12, M13 Exe: `/`/SIS RIC 207b (VI, Cyzicus)
32) B07, O12, R26, T27, M13 Exe: =/`/SIS RIC 227a (VI,
Siscia)
33) B07, O12, R26, T28, M03 Exe: AQ`
34) B07, O12, R26, T32, M13 Exe: `/•SIS• RIC 15 (VII,
Siscia)
35) B07, O12, R26, T32, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 8 (VII,
Siscia)
36) B07, O12, R26, T32, M13 Exe: `SIS RIC 22 (VII,
Siscia)
37) B07, O12, R26, T32, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 57 (VII,
Thessalonica)
38) B07, O12, R29, T32, M13 Exe: `/•SIS• RIC 229a (VI,
Siscia)
39) B07, O12, R29, T32, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 4 (VII,
Siscia)
40) B07, O13, R08, T77, M04 Exe: `¨A RIC 240 (VII,
Arles)
41) B07, O13, R08, T77, M13 Exe: `SIS RIC 150 (VII,
Siscia)
42) B07, O13, R08, T77, M13 Exe: `SIS* RIC 160 (VII,
Siscia)
43) B07, O13, R11, T77, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 67 (VII,
Aquileia)
44) B07, O13, R33, T35, M13 Exe: •`SIS• RIC 141 (VII,
Siscia)
45) B07, O13, R54, T65, M13 Exe: I/`SIS* RIC 96 (VII,
Siscia)
46) B07, O15, R26, T32, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 13 (VII,
Nicomedia)
47) B07, O15, R26, T32, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 11 (VII,
Siscia)
48) B07, O15, R29, T32, M13 Exe: `/SIS
49) B07, O15, R34, T47, M15 Exe: */`•T RIC 24 (VII,
Ticinum)
50) B07, O22, R13, T15, M14 Exe: */`/SM•TS• RIC 30b (VI,
Thessalonica)
51) B07, O22, R68, T44, M14 Exe: */`/SM•TS• RIC 37b (VI,
Thessalonica)
52) B07, O23, R13, T12, M05 Exe: `/;/MKV RIC 66 (VI, Cyzicus)
53) B07, O23, R13, T16, M05 Exe: `/MKV RIC 83 (VI, Cyzicus)
54) B07, O23, R14, T12, M05 Exe: MKV` RIC 76 (VI, Cyzicus)
55) B07, O23, R16, T12, M05 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 57 (VI, Cyzicus)
56) B07, O23, R26, T15, M05 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 54 (VI, Cyzicus)
57) B07, O23, R49, T58, M05 Exe: `/MKV
58) B09, O12, R27, T21, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 210 (VII, Trier)
59) B09, O12, R29, T32, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 233a (VI,
Siscia)
60) B09, O13, R27, T21, M04 Exe: `ARL RIC 196 (VII,
Arles)
61) B09, O13, R55, T66, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 61 (VII,
Thessalonica)
62) B09, O13, R58, T65, M08 Exe: 0 RIC 70 (VII, Lyons)
63) B09, O13, R71, T76, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 33 (VII,
Thessalonica)
64) B09, O15, R17, T12, M07 Exe: */`LN RIC 249 (VI, Londinium)
65) B09, O13, R17, T12, M16 Exe: A/S/`TR
66) B09, O15, R17, T12, M07 Exe: S/F/`LN RIC 3 (VII,
London)
67) B09, O15, R17, T12, M16 Exe: T/F/`TR RIC 845b (VI,
Treveri)
68) B09, O15, R51, T56, M04 Exe: S/F/`ARL RIC 59 (VII,
Arles)
69) B09, O15, R51, T56, M11 Exe: R over X/F/R` RIC 30 (VII,
Rome)
70) B09, O15, R51, T56, M11 Exe: R/F/R` RIC 4 (VII,
Rome)
71) B09, O15, R51, T56, M11 Exe: R/F/R*` RIC 23 (VII,
Rome)
72) B09, O15, R51, T56, M15 Exe: */`T RIC 9 (VII,
Ticinum)
73) B09, O15, R52, T61, M11 Exe: R` RIC 349c (VI,
Roma)
74) B11, O11, R29, T32, M14 Exe: •TS•`•
75) B11, O12, R27, T32, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 3 (VII,
Thessalonica)
76) B11, O12, R29, T32, M02 Exe: `/ANT RIC 17 (VII,
Antioch)
77) B11, O12, R29, T32, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 234a (VI,
Siscia)
78) B11, O12, R29, T32, M14 Exe: `/•SM•TS• RIC 2 (VII,
Thessalonica)
79) B11, O12, R29, T32, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 60 (VII,
Thessalonica)
80) B11, O13, R54, T65, M13 Exe: •`SIS• RIC 86 (VII,
Siscia)
81) B11, O15, R51, T56, M11 Exe: R over X/F/R` RIC 29 (VII,
Rome)
82) B13, O12, R41, T03, M06 Exe: HT` RIC 15 (VII,
Heraclea)
83) B13, O13, R27, T21, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 211 (VII, Trier)
84) B13, O13, R28, T26, M01 Exe: `/`/SMAL RIC 23 (VII,
Alexandria)
85) B13, O13, R28, T30, M05 Exe: =/`/SMK RIC 9 (VII, Cyzicus)
86) B13, O13, R28, T30, M09 Exe: `/`/SMN RIC 24 (VII,
Nicomedia)
87) B13, O13, R28, T31, M02 Exe: `/SMANT RIC 27 (VII,
Antioch)
88) B13, O13, R41, T03, M06 Exe: •SMH` RIC 43 (VII,
Heraclea)
89) B13, O13, R41, T03, M06 Exe: MH` RIC 17 (VII,
Heraclea)
90) B14, O15, R27, T21, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 825 (VI,
Treveri)
91) B16, O13, R41, T03, M06 Exe: Λ /SMH`
92) B19, O07, R26, T33, M05 Exe: X over IIГ/SMK` RIC 15 (VII, Cyzicus)
93) B19, O07, R26, T33, M06 Exe: X over IIГ/SMH` RIC 52 (VII,
Heraclea)
94) B19, O07, R26, T33, M09 Exe: X over IIГ/SMN` RIC 44 (VII,
Nicomedia)
95) Ba, O01, R22, T09, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 38 (VII,
Nicomedia)
96) Bb, O01, R24, T29, M06 Exe: SMAT` RIC 50 (VII,
Heraclea)