Roman Provincial coin, Licinus I

[KurtS]

A Roman provincial coin I shot the other day.
Licinus I, 308 - 324 AD - Bronze 16-18mm, 3.3 grams
Heraclea mint (modern Turkey)

[coop]

Quote:

A Roman provincial coin I shot the other day.

Wow and there is no mark on it after it got shot.... LOL
I'm sure you meant you "GOT". Funny how a switch of letters changes the whole meaning. But think positive; spell check would have missed that also.

[KurtS]

Coop,

I might say it was "bought and shot" --as in "shot" with my camera (this is my photo).

Does anybody notice the apparent open mouth on this portrait? It's probably die wear or corrosion, because no other portraits of Licinus I on this provincial series show this. Whatever the cause, it's an angry looking little coin.

[Bob P]

The Camp Gate reverse was used on many coins of that time. I have 3 different Constantine 1 (307-331 AD) that show the gate.
Funny that you should post a pic of that type of coin because today I have been trying to ID some of the hundreds of Roman, Greek and Byzantine coins I have had for years. Here is a very very nice silver Antoniniarus with Gordian III dated about 238 AD. I am having problems identifying the reverse to a coin number. It shows Oriens AVG.
Anyway, this is by far the best conditioned 1770 year old coin I have.

[coop]

I thought the open mouth was just a statement. LOL

Seems like I've seen that before.....

[Dick]

Coop, I have seen a few of the coins, from "way back then", and several 0of them have the "open mouth". They were from a friend, and fellow collector, and Ham radio operator, who retired, and now lives in Constantinople, Turkey. Good place to look foe that type of coins. i DON'T KNOW IF "cHERRY-PICKING" WILL BE VERY PROFITABLE. I knew you had been around quite a while, but I didn't expect you to give away your age so closely.
Dick

[KurtS]

Bob, that's a nice Gordian III! The portrait somehow reminds me of George VI on UK/AUS/Canada, etc coins of the era. I have a Gordian III coin I should photograph sometime, aka "shoot"

Admittedly, I know very little about ancient Roman coins, but I'm curious why a "camp gate" would be shown on the reverse? Perhaps it conveys strength or security, similar to the intent of the eagle on US coins?

[coop]

The comment about the open mouth image on the coin reminded me of a story that was told years ago. (Now new to yourger ones.) A man bought a camera and he had problems with getting images of his wife. Every image her mouth always looked blurred. So he return the camera and asked for a higher speed of images to adjust for the speed of her lips when she was taking during images. I've known people like that. Made sure not to get involved with them. You know the expression: "Talked the leg off you."

[KurtS]

[coop]

Only an hour and a 1/4. I had this student who sat next to me in school and she was just like that. But I only had to deal with her for several years. She would come in and sit down and before she sat, the conversation started and didn't quit till we were going to the next class. I got an education early on what TO watch out for in picking a friend. The only time her lips didn't move was when she smiled.

[Bob P]

Kurt,
The 'Camp Gate' reverse on a lot of these old roman coins has several differences. They include the number of turrents and stars that are shown above. I can't remember exactly what the significance of the gate was, but I will find it soon enough and let you know once I track it down.
I have been fascinated with these coins for years, and even with the help of a couple of books, I find it difficult to identify them. I probably have a few hundred of them, but the ones in the best condition are the silver ones. I also managed to find some gold coins in uncleaned lots, but they have lost a lot of the detail. Who needs detail with the price of gold anyway

[Dick]

Bob, I'll bet you would rather have a $50.00 gold coin, instread of an equivalent amount in a bar of gold. Right? Just kidding.
Dick

[GarryN]

Here are two more Licinius I coins of different varieties


http://www.harlanjberk.com/ancientcoins/details.asp?inventorynumber=16025&catheading=DIOCLETIAN%2DJULIAN+II+%28284%2D363+AD%29&culture=Ancient+Roman&inventorygroup=cc&linenum=26&file=/ancientcoins/text.asp

http://www.harlanjberk.com/ancientcoins/details.asp?inventorynumber=46619&catheading=DIOCLETIAN%2DJULIAN+II+%28284%2D363+AD%29&culture=Ancient+Roman&inventorygroup=cc&linenum=14&file=/ancientcoins/text.asp

[GarryN]

Here is another Gordian III, seated reverse

http://www.harlanjberk.com/ancientcoins/details.asp?inventorynumber=11780&catheading=MAXIMINUS+I%2DNUMERIAN+%28235%2D284+AD%29&culture=Ancient+Roman&inventorygroup=cc&linenum=31&file=/ancientcoins/text.asp

Another

http://www.harlanjberk.com/ancientcoins/details.asp?inventorynumber=27909&catheading=MAXIMINUS+I%2DNUMERIAN+%28235%2D284+AD%29&culture=Ancient+Roman&inventorygroup=cc&linenum=15&file=/ancientcoins/text.asp

Here is a rarer variety of Gordian III

http://www.harlanjberk.com/ancientcoins/details.asp?inventorynumber=51884&catheading=MAXIMINUS+I%2DNUMERIAN+%28235%2D284+AD%29&culture=Ancient+Roman&inventorygroup=cc&linenum=1&file=/ancientcoins/text.asp

[GarryN]

Here is a Constantine I, without the Gate

http://www.harlanjberk.com/ancientcoins/details.asp?inventorynumber=58909&catheading=DIOCLETIAN%2DJULIAN+II+%28284%2D363+AD%29&culture=Ancient+Roman&inventorygroup=cc&linenum=10&file=/ancientcoins/text.asp