Jump to content

Md..Fresh from the ground..


galba68

Recommended Posts

All right! I see a little captive under the crust, which is my favorite thing about Licinius coinage.

Here's my googly-eyed Licinius II. (Struck c. 317-321, Licinius Jr. must've been, what, like 2-5 years old? I enjoy his toddler-like portrait, if not reminiscing about his execution by his uncle, the great Constantine, alongside dear cousin Crispus and poor aunt Fausta.) Also an AE3 with Jupiter & a captive. Also left-facing. But no Helmet and spear w/ bust or eagle on reverse on this one. This is from Giovanni Dattari's (1858-1923) Collection of Late Roman Bronze Coins. Photo Credit: Still using Victor Clark's sale photo. I consider myself lucky to have gotten this one.

image.jpeg.215e570f19fe0eca0fb7e3328877c002.jpeg

Roman Imperial. Licinius II AE3 Follis (20mm, 3.6g, 6h). Antioch, c. 317- 321 CE.
Obv: DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C. Laureate, draped bust left, hold sceptre & mappa.
Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS / H (to r.) / SMANT (in ex.). Jupiter standing, chlamys across shoulder, holding sceptre & Victory on globe. To left: Bearded, shirtless Eastern (Sarmatian?) captive, hands bound in rear, wearing pointed cap & baggy trousers w/ ornate seam or column of tassels (?).
Ref: RIC VII Antioch 29
Prov: Ex Victor Clark; previously CNG group lot; ex-Giovanni Dattari (1858-1923) Collection of Late Roman Bronze Coins. Presumably ex-Vico (did all Dattari's RIC on the market start there)?

Aside from accumulating Dattari coins, I am always interested in the minutiae of captives and "barbarians." This one is clearly "Eastern," maybe Sarmatian based on Licinius I's role attacking them, c. 310-. Nothing is out of the ordinary for an Eastern captive (pointy hat, no shirt, baggy pants) but I like the details. The beard and the pants are very textured. The left pantleg has an element visible on many Fallen Horsemen -- some kind of ornate column of tassels or a seam along the front? It's a bit easier to see on a bigger FEL TEMP AE2s, but I still don't have any idea what it's supposed to be. As a regular part of the design, though, it must be illustrating a typical feature of "barbarian" clothing....

Edited by Curtis JJ
  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...