Ancient Roman Bronze Licinius 308-324 - 20 mm (No reserve price)

"Ancient Roman Bronze Coin of Licinius I – Jupiter Conservator Reverse

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: Early 4th century A.D., reign of Licinius I (A.D. 308–324)
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 20.2 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside theopean Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within theopean Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 913

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the coin of Licinius I from N.N. in Wijchen, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, N.N. of Wijchen, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously formed part of a private collection in the Netherlands since before 1990.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This bronze coin was issued for Licinius I, Roman emperor from A.D. 308 to 324. The obverse shows a radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Licinius facing right. The legend IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG identifies him as emperor and Augustus, with P F representing the traditional imperial titles Pius Felix.

The reverse depicts Jupiter standing and holding his attributes, accompanied by the legend IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, referring to Jupiter as protector of the emperors. Jupiter Conservator was an important theme on the coinage of Licinius, expressing divine protection, stability and the legitimacy of imperial authority during a period when power was divided between several rulers.

Coins such as this were produced within the highly organised Roman imperial minting system and circulated widely as everyday currency. At the same time, their portraits and reverse designs acted as a means of imperial communication, carrying official titles and religious-political imagery throughout the provinces of the Empire.

The coin belongs to the politically complex early 4th century, when Licinius shared and eventually contested imperial power with Constantine I before his defeat in A.D. 324. As an object intended for everyday monetary circulation, it forms a tangible connection to the economic, religious and political life of the Late Roman Empire."