Licinius                  308 - 324 A.D.

 

Licinius was a soldier and friend of Galerius. When Diocletian effected the Tetrarchy, Galerius became emperor of the East and he named his friend 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 though pardoned executed anyway some time afterwards on trumped-up conspiracy charges. But hardly any tears were shed for Licinius was a cruel ruler with few redeeming qualities, in contrast to Constantine.

 

 

Obv-IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG Laureate head right

Rev-IOVI CONS-ERVATORI Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle at feet. D In right field. ?RN in Ex.

Obv-IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG Laureate head right

Rev-IOVI CONS-ERVATORI Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle at feet. D In right field. ?RN in Ex.

Obv-IMP LIC LICINIVS P F AVG Laureate head right.

Rev-IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG NN Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle with wreath at feet. D In right field. SIS in Ex.

RIC VII 008g

Obv-IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG Laureate head right.

Rev-IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle with wreath at feet. SNMT in Ex.

RIC VII 18b

Licinius II

Obv-LICINIUS IVN NOB CAES Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right.

Rev-VICTORIA CAES S NN Victory advancing left with wreath & palm branch.

Obv-IMP LIC LICINIVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Rev-IOVI CONS-ERVATORI AVGG NN Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, eagle with wreath at feet. B In right field. STS in Ex.