Licinius I / Sol - Follis - 20mm 
                          Arles mint 315-6 AD RIC 59

                          Alternately ally and adversary of Constantine was Licinius
                          (Augustus 308-324 AD). Licinius controlled the East but was
                          represented also on coins from Constantine's western mints. IMP
LICINIVS PF AVG is just one of several legend varieties found for this ruler but all will include the
title Augustus. Sol, the unconquerable sun god and comrade of the emperor (SOLI INVICTO
COMITI), was most popular in the years immediately preceding the conversion of the Empire to
Christianity. He is shown as a nude male wearing a radiate crown and holding a globe. The
mintmark PARL combines the workshop letter P (primus) and the first three letters of the mint
name. Code letters in the field (here SF) identify the issue (therefore date) of the coins. While some
mint/issue combinations are rare and desired by specialists, Sol coins are generally very common.



Douglas Smith