Licinius I AE3 Follis. Nicomedia Mint, AD 317–320. IOVI CONSERVATORI, Scarce Bus

Roman Imperial, Licinius I, AD 308–324

AE3 Follis. Nicomedia mint, 2nd officina, AD 317–320.

Obverse: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG

Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust left, holding mappa in right hand and globe and scepter in left.

Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG

Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe in right hand and leaning on scepter with left. At feet to left, eagle with wreath in beak. In right field, N.

Exergue: SMNP

Reference: RIC VII Nicomedia 24

Weight: 3.4g   Diameter: 19mm

Condition: Good Very Fine to Near Extremely Fine. Attractive dark olive-green patina with blue overtones. Exceptionally sharp portrait of Licinius with full details. Reverse superb — Jupiter, Victory, eagle, and all legends fully legible. SMNP mint mark bold. Minor surface roughness, no corrosion or cleaning marks.

Struck at Nicomedia during the period of joint rule with Constantine I, before their final civil war of 324 AD. The IOVI CONSERVATORI type proclaims Jupiter as protector of the emperors. The left-facing bust holding mappa is a scarcer variety than the common right-facing bust.

Provenance: From a private US collection.