Arminius Numismatics

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Galerie > Ancient World > The Roman Empire > Alexandria (Egypt) - later imperial types
316-317 AD., Licinius I., Alexandria mint, Follis, RIC 18.
Licinius I., Alexandria mint, 316-317 AD.,
Æ Follis (20-21 mm / 3,57 g),
Obv.: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG , laureate head of Licinius (with Valens portrait ?) right .
Rev.: IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG / K - (wreath) / X / A / ALE , Jupiter standing front, head left, chlamys across left shoulder, leaning on scepter and holding Victory (presenting wreath to Jupiter) on globe in his right hand. On ground to left, eagle holding wreath in beak (K in left field | wreath over X over A in right field / ALE in exe.).
RIC VII, 706, 18 ; C. 121 var. (LICINIAN LICINIVS) .

During the fighting retreat from Constantine, copper nummi were struck for Valens at Cyzicus and Alexandria. In type and style they were identical to the companion coins of Licinius I, with little more than the inscription to distinguish them. At Cyzicus, all eight officinae were striking for Licinius, and it is possible that all eight were also striking for Valens. At present, however, RIC documents only the sixth officina.

Valerius Valens was among Romes less fortunate emperors, as there was little time or cause for celebration during his three-month reign, and his execution was swift and unceremonious. Historians should rightly describe this Valens as "Valens I" since a later Valens (who should be "Valens II"), ruled the Eastern Roman Empire from 364-378. By comparison, the Julian who reigned from 360-363 is called "Julian II" because the usurper Julian of Pannonia reigned before him, in 284-285.

The first civil war between Licinius and Constantine I began poorly for Licinius: his army was narrowly defeated at Cibalae on October 8, 316, which sent him into a retreat. In a hasty move either at Cibalae or while on the run, Licinius declared Valerius Valens, one of his frontier generals, emperor in place of Constantine, whom he symbolically deposed. Constantines relentless pursuit ended in a truce by which Constantine gained control of much of the Balkans and claimed for himself the title of Senior Augustus. His third condition was that Valens be deposed; Licinius exceeded his demand by executing Valens. Whether this was a demonstration of good faith or a convenient excuse to remove a potential rival is not known.


Shortly before or after his defeat by Constantine at the Battle of Cibalae (8 October, AD 316), Licinius I symbolically deposed his rival emperor and elevated his general, Valerius Valens, to replace Constantine as the Roman emperor in the east. The arrangement was short-lived, as Constantine was soon in a dominant position from which he was able to force Licinius to recognize him as the senior emperor, and also depose Valens. Whether it was part of the agreement is unknown, but Licinius not only deposed Valens, he had him executed. Nevertheless, during the short interlude in which Valens was emperor, coinage was struck for him by the Licinian-controlled mints of Cyzicus and Alexandria. By the middle of the 20th century, a handful of Valens’ issues could be found in a number of the major collections. R.A.G. Carson’s examination of the Geneva Forgeries (NC 1958, pp. 47-58), however, led to the conclusion that most of these coins were modern, and only two, the Paris and Berlin coins, remained as authentic. A few more authentic coins have appeared on the market recently. A review of these reveals that both officinas at Alexandria, and likely all eight at Cyzicus, produced issues for Valens.
Schlüsselwörter: Licinius Valens Follis Alexandria Jupiter Chlamys Scepter Victory Victoria Wreath Globe Eagle

316-317 AD., Licinius I., Alexandria mint, Follis, RIC 18.

Licinius I., Alexandria mint, 316-317 AD.,
Æ Follis (20-21 mm / 3,57 g),
Obv.: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG , laureate head of Licinius (with Valens portrait ?) right .
Rev.: IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG / K - (wreath) / X / A / ALE , Jupiter standing front, head left, chlamys across left shoulder, leaning on scepter and holding Victory (presenting wreath to Jupiter) on globe in his right hand. On ground to left, eagle holding wreath in beak (K in left field | wreath over X over A in right field / ALE in exe.).
RIC VII, 706, 18 ; C. 121 var. (LICINIAN LICINIVS) .

During the fighting retreat from Constantine, copper nummi were struck for Valens at Cyzicus and Alexandria. In type and style they were identical to the companion coins of Licinius I, with little more than the inscription to distinguish them. At Cyzicus, all eight officinae were striking for Licinius, and it is possible that all eight were also striking for Valens. At present, however, RIC documents only the sixth officina.

Valerius Valens was among Romes less fortunate emperors, as there was little time or cause for celebration during his three-month reign, and his execution was swift and unceremonious. Historians should rightly describe this Valens as "Valens I" since a later Valens (who should be "Valens II"), ruled the Eastern Roman Empire from 364-378. By comparison, the Julian who reigned from 360-363 is called "Julian II" because the usurper Julian of Pannonia reigned before him, in 284-285.

The first civil war between Licinius and Constantine I began poorly for Licinius: his army was narrowly defeated at Cibalae on October 8, 316, which sent him into a retreat. In a hasty move either at Cibalae or while on the run, Licinius declared Valerius Valens, one of his frontier generals, emperor in place of Constantine, whom he symbolically deposed. Constantines relentless pursuit ended in a truce by which Constantine gained control of much of the Balkans and claimed for himself the title of Senior Augustus. His third condition was that Valens be deposed; Licinius exceeded his demand by executing Valens. Whether this was a demonstration of good faith or a convenient excuse to remove a potential rival is not known.


Shortly before or after his defeat by Constantine at the Battle of Cibalae (8 October, AD 316), Licinius I symbolically deposed his rival emperor and elevated his general, Valerius Valens, to replace Constantine as the Roman emperor in the east. The arrangement was short-lived, as Constantine was soon in a dominant position from which he was able to force Licinius to recognize him as the senior emperor, and also depose Valens. Whether it was part of the agreement is unknown, but Licinius not only deposed Valens, he had him executed. Nevertheless, during the short interlude in which Valens was emperor, coinage was struck for him by the Licinian-controlled mints of Cyzicus and Alexandria. By the middle of the 20th century, a handful of Valens’ issues could be found in a number of the major collections. R.A.G. Carson’s examination of the Geneva Forgeries (NC 1958, pp. 47-58), however, led to the conclusion that most of these coins were modern, and only two, the Paris and Berlin coins, remained as authentic. A few more authentic coins have appeared on the market recently. A review of these reveals that both officinas at Alexandria, and likely all eight at Cyzicus, produced issues for Valens.

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Datei-Information
Dateiname:SH014~0.jpg
Name des Albums:Arminius / Alexandria (Egypt) - later imperial types
Schlüsselwörter:Licinius / Valens / Follis / Alexandria / Jupiter / Chlamys / Scepter / Victory / Victoria / Wreath / Globe / Eagle
Dateigröße:83 KB
Hinzugefügt am:%01. %931 %2008
Abmessungen:1024 x 497 Pixel
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URL:http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/coppermine1414/cpg15x/displayimage.php?pid=1773
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