Licinius I Roman AE (AD 308-324) NGC

Own a certified Roman bronze AE of Licinius I (AD 308–324), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin connects to the turbulent final years of the Tetrarchy and the rise of Constantine the Great.

Licinius was a senior partner and eventual rival to Constantine, serving as Eastern Roman Emperor during a period of fragile political alliances. In 313 AD, Licinius cemented his ties to Constantine by marrying Constantia, Constantine’s half-sister — an alliance that temporarily forestalled civil war between East and West.

The marriage celebrations coincided with one of the most significant events in Roman history: the Edict of Milan. Issued jointly by Constantine and Licinius, the Edict legalized Christianity throughout the empire, granting new religious freedoms after centuries of intermittent persecution.

However, the political peace between Licinius and Constantine did not last. Tensions mounted, and in 324 AD, their rivalry culminated in the Battle of Chrysopolis. Licinius was defeated, captured, and eventually executed — reportedly by hanging — on Constantine’s orders, despite promises of clemency.

Bronze AE coins of Licinius typically feature his laurel-crowned or helmeted portrait on the obverse, while reverses promote military strength, divine favor, or the unity of the empire — idealized themes during a time of intense internal conflict.

Certified by NGC, this AE coin offers collectors a tangible link to one of the final and most critical struggles for control of the Roman world — and to the moment when Christianity took its first great step into imperial favor.