Licinius II, Caesar, 317-324. Follis (Bronze, 18 mm, 3.45 g, 7 h), Rome, circa 320. LICINIVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Licinius II to right. Rev. VIRTV-S AVGG / P - R / R P Bird's eye view of a camp gate with closed doors and four turrets. Ramskold, Les portes de camp (2018), p. 321, figs. 6B and D (this coin). RIC -. Of the highest rarity, and with an extremely unusual architectural type. Minor deposits on the reverse, otherwise, nearly very fine.


This unique piece is certainly one of the most exceptional coins in the Ramskold Collection, showing a highly interesting camp gate on the reverse rendered in perspective. The type is of historical significance for showing how Romans struggled with depicting objects three-dimensionally. Only three coins with a 3D camp gate are known, from different dies and depicting the gate in different ways. One is in the Berlin Bode-Museum, the other two are in the Ramskold Collection and offered here. All three are for Licinius II, but that may be a coincidence.