7-2337

RIC VII, NICOMEDIA 26, LICINIUS II, OBVERSE LEGEND VARIETY

  

OBVERSE

VACOLICI-NIVSNOBCS [VA CO LICINIVS NOB CS]; bust l., laur., dr., cuir., seen from back.

REVERSE

IOVICONS-ERVATORIAVGG [IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG]; Jupiter stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder, leaning on sceptre, holding Victory on globe. Branch in left field, S in right field. SMN in exergue.

NOT IN RIC

OBVERSE LEGEND VARIETY. Specimen similar to NICOMEDIA 26 (RIC lists unique specimen from off. S) except for NOB in obv. legend instead of NOV. Note that the variety listed in RIC (...NOV CS) is probably a result of engraver's error.

General note from p. 595: "The first post-war coins present certain difficulties. We have an odd series of highly unorthodox, not to say irregular, obverse legends of the Caesars:

FL VN CRISPVS NO CAS
VA CO LICI-NIVS NOV CS or N CS
F CL CONSTAN-TINVS NOV CS

The corresponding obverse bust was B4 l. The busts are exceptionally large, and in accordance with the unusual development we should expect them to be of late date. The broken obverse legends point in the same direction. A further point of interest is that they are regularly connected with the reverse legend IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG. Nevertheless, they appear to be of regular fabric, and Maurice's explanation of the obverse legends as due to the Greek engravers of the mint is probably correct. All the same, we should not expect such grossly distorted versions of the official legends to appear at a time of normal friendly intercourse between the two parts of the Empire. The coins should therefore be regarded as an endeavour to commemorate the settlement at Serdica at an early stage before proper instructions had been circulated to all the mints. The large-size busts can be similarly explained, and the irregular employment of the reverse legend Iovi conservatori augg confirms the impression of an emergency arrangement".

Note that "corresponding obverse bust" is actually B3 l. (see CORRIGENDA, VOL. VII, p. 604).

See also:
NICOMEDIA [after 25], CRISPUS, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND
NICOMEDIA [after 25], CRISPUS, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND
NICOMEDIA [before 26], LICINIUS II, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND
NICOMEDIA 27, LICINIUS II, UNLISTED OFFICINA A
NICOMEDIA 27, LICINIUS II, UNLISTED OFFICINA Δ
NICOMEDIA 27, LICINIUS II, UNLISTED OFFICINA Z
NICOMEDIA [after 27], LICINIUS II, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND [6d] AND BUST TYPE
NICOMEDIA 28, CONSTANTINE II, OBVERSE LEGEND VARIETY
NICOMEDIA [after 28], CONSTANTINE II, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND, OFFICINA B
NICOMEDIA [after 28], CONSTANTINE II, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND, OFFICINA Δ
NICOMEDIA [after 28], CONSTANTINE II, UNLISTED OBVERSE LEGEND [7b]
NICOMEDIA [before 31], LICINIUS I, UNLISTED MINTMARK

NOTES

Weight 2.97 g; diameter 19 mm. From Guy Braun's collection.


NOT IN RIC © 2004 Lech Stępniewski