Licinius II, as Caesar AD 317-324. Arelate (Arles)
Follis Æ

20 mm, 2,98 g

LICINIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right / CAESARVM NOSTRORVM around VOTIS V in three lines; QA under horizontal exergual line.

Very Fine

RIC 221.

Licinius II, also known as Valerius Licinianus Licinius, briefly held the title of Roman Emperor from AD 317 to 324. Born around AD 315, he was the son of Emperor Licinius, who co-ruled the Roman Empire as an Augustus in the Eastern part of the realm. Licinius II's elevation to the position of Caesar in AD 317 occurred when he was just a child. This appointment was made by his father as part of the complex system known as the Tetrarchy, in which the Roman Empire was governed by four emperors. The Tetrarchy was marked by political turmoil and power struggles, and Licinius II's rule was a result of this intricate environment. Notably, he was related to the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great through marriage. His half-sister, Constantia, was married to Constantine, and this familial connection played a role in the broader political dynamics of the time. However, Licinius II's time as Caesar was exceedingly brief. In 324 AD, while he was still a child, he passed away, possibly due to illness. His death held significance in the ongoing power struggle between Constantine and his father, Licinius. In the grand tapestry of Roman history, Licinius II's short and relatively uneventful rule is a minor chapter. His connection to the influential Emperor Constantine, however, was a noteworthy factor in the complex political landscape of the era.