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Ancient Bronze Radiate of Emperor Licinius I (308-324 A.D.)

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:45.00 USD Estimated At:75.00 - 150.00 USD
Ancient Bronze Radiate of Emperor Licinius I (308-324 A.D.)
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The antoninianus (plural antoniniani) is a modern name for a type of coin minted by the Roman Empire in the 3rd century A.D.  Initially, the antoninianus was silver and carried a value of 2 silver denari.  It depicted the emperor wearing a "radiate" crown, easily identified by the curved band of points (which represented sun rays).  Occasionally, antoniniani bore the portrait of the emperor's wife, in which case the coin was identified by the appearance of a cresent under the portrait.  Gradually, the silver content of antoniniani was reduced.  (In fact, some later antoniniani bear a mark of "XXI", once thought to be a mintmark, but more recently thought to indicate a 20 to 1 ratio of base metals to silver.)       Some early 4th century Roman coins also depict the emperor wearing a radiate crown, and were technically not antoniniani, but "folles" (singular "follis").  The term "radiate" generally refers to a coin depicting the emperor wearing a radiate crown.  While the terms "antoniniani" and "radiate" are not identical, the overlap is so great that the terms are sometimes viewed as interchangeable.