Licinius I, AE21mm 4.5g follis HERCVLI VICTORI

[seth]

This is the coin:

AE21mm 4.5g follis

OBV: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG; laureate head r.
REV: HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, leaning on club with lion's skin. * over Γ in left field.
EXE: SMN Nicomedia mint.
REF: RIC – unlisted, RIC VI Nicomedia 75 only lists this type for Maximinus II. Other examples known for Licinius, but for different officinae. This coin is the first known example from this officina, as far as I know.

[Lech Stępniewski]

This coin is the first known example from this officina, as far as I know.

And the second example known to me.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/notinric/6nic-75_lic_g.html

Congratulations!

[seth]

Dear Lech,

Looking at the differences in weight on both this one and the one of Crispus, makes me think that my scale is out of balance.

[Lech Stępniewski]

makes me think that my scale is out of balance.

You can check it using a modern coin of known weight. For example Polish 10 groszy should weight 2.51 g and Polish 1 złoty (means "gold" but of course it isn't) should weight 5 g (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_coins_and_banknotes). Just like American 1c (2.50 g) and 5c (5 g) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_United_States_dollar)

Modern coins are made precisely enough that one could use a nice example as a cheap standard weight for calibration.

[seth]

As expected, there was a problem with the scale. It is off with -0.6g. So please revise the weights of both coins - the Licinius is 5.1g and the Crispus is 2.9g

[Lech Stępniewski]

As expected, there was a problem with the scale. It is off with -0.6g. So please revise the weights of both coins - the Licinius is 5.1g and the Crispus is 2.9g

Are you sure that it is in both cases just -0.6 g? Not, for example, -10% of the actual weight or even something more sophisticated?

[seth]

I have tried the modern coin method with all local denominations. They all showed a -0.6g variation, so I guess it's safe to say that this is the problem.
Nonetheless a new scale is due.