Ave!

Licinius I and II, Holding trophy obverse, Rare 4

Æ 2 (Nummus); 23.7mm/3.5gm  struck  317-318 AD.

Con/ warm brown patina with brassy high-lights, some surface porosity, otherwise, Very Fine

Obv/ DD NN IOVII LICINII INVICT AVG ET CAES; confronted busts of Licinus I and Licinius II, holding trophy of arms between them.

Rev/ I O M ET VIRTVTI DD NN AVG ET CAES; Jupiter, naked but for chlamys over shoulder, standing left, sceptre in his left hand and trophy in right hand, two bound captives flanking the trophy.

Antioch Mint; SMATS in exergue

Ref/ RIC VII 50cf (Heraclea); Cohen 3. Bastien, NC 1973, 5.

Seller's Note/ RIC mis-attributed such issues to the Heraclea mint rather from Antioch and their mistake has been well recorded. Apparently struck to celebrate the investitures of Constantine II and Licinius II with the title Caesar, 317 or 318 AD. RIC VII places it in 320 AD. If RIC is correct with their date, Licinius junior was only 20 months old, although he is presented on the obverse as a young man.