Licinius I, 308-324. Follis (Bronze, 21 mm, 3.15 g, 6 h), Arelate, 313-315. IMP LICINIVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Licinius I to right.
Rev. PROVIDE-NTI-AE AVGG / SARL The city-goddess of Arelate, turreted, standing front, head to left, holding signum in her left hand and clasping her right with Moneta, standing right on arriving galley and holding cornucopiae in her left hand. Depeyrot, Émissions, 3/4. RIC 32. Extremely rare and of great historical interest. Struck from somewhat worn dies
, otherwise, very fine.
From the collection of a British specialist of Roman coins.
The coins commemorating the transfer in 313 of the mint of Ostia to the new mint of Arles are most interesting. We can be certain that to have - or not to have - a mint was extremely important for a city. In the case of Ostia, Constantine closed the mint after he had defeated Maxentius and transferred its staff and resources to the newly opened mint of Arelate. As such, the reverse of this coin shows Moneta arriving from Ostia in Arelate.
