7-840

RIC VII, ROME [after 193], LICINIUS II, UNLISTED REVERSE TYPE, OFFICINA P

  

OBVERSE

LICINIVSIVNNOBC [LICINIVS IVN NOB C]; bust r., laur., dr., cuir.

REVERSE

VIRTV-S[AVG]G [VIRTVS AVGG]; camp gate with four turrets shown in 3-D perspective, gate closed; six stone layers. P in left field, R in right field. RP in exergue.

NOT IN RIC

UNLISTED REVERSE TYPE. Not listed for this issue or for any other Virtus Augg series. However, note that campgates in 3-D view are found on few coins from the Constantinian era. See examples of RIC VI ROMA 6b, RIC VI ROMA 8a, RIC VI ROMA 8b (BM no. 1924,0103.19; 5.68 g) and RIC VII TRIER 1 (Berlin no, 18200450; 8.93 g, 26 mm).

One may regard this specimen as an ancient imitation but Lars Ramskold claims that "it's an official issue, die matched with other coins. There is also a second specimen, different reverse die." See also his paper: "Les portes de camp en trois dimensions sur le monnayage de Constantin: une recherche laborieuse de perspective (Rome, 320 apr. J.-C.)", BSFN 2018, no. 7, p. 317-323. Coin should be listed after ROME 193.

See also:
ROME [after 193], LICINIUS II, UNLISTED REVERSE TYPE, OFFICINA T

NOTES

Weight 3.46 g; diameter 17.8 mm. Ex Lars Ramskold. Sold on Leu Numismatik web auction 25 (lot 3139) in March 2023 for CHF 4,200.

Other specimens:

- from Lars Ramskold's paper cited above (picture 6/C on p. 321); weight 2.81 g; diameter 18 mm [click for picture].


NOT IN RIC © 2004 Lech Stępniewski