LICINIUS II Junior 321AD Aquileia CAPTIVES Vexillum Ancient Roman Coin i49822

Item: i49822

Authentic Ancient

Coin of:

Licinius II ‘Junior’ –

Roman
Caesar
: 317-324 A.D. –
Bronze AE3 19mm (2.93 grams) Aquileia mint: 321-324 A.D.
LICINIVS IVN NOB CAES, Laureate, draped bust left, holding Victory on globe and
mappa.
VIRTVSEXERCIT Exe: S/F/AQS, Vexillum reading VOT/X; seated captive on either
side.

You are bidding on the exact item pictured,

Authenticity.

The vexillum (English pronunciation: plural vexilla
was a flag
-like object used in the
Classical Era
of the
Roman Empire
. The word is itself a diminutive
for the Latin word, velum, sail, which confirms the historical evidence (from
coins and sculpture) that vexilla were literally “little sails” i.e. flag-like
standards. In the vexillum the cloth was draped from a horizontal crossbar
suspended from the staff; this is unlike most modern flags in which the ‘hoist’
of the cloth is attached directly to the vertical staff. The bearer of a
vexillum was known as a
vexillarius
or vexillifer. Just as
in the case of the regimental colors or flag of Western regiments, the vexillum
was a treasured symbol of the military unit that it represented and it was
closely defended in combat
.

Nearly all of the present-day regions of
Italy
preserve the use of vexilla. Many
Christian processional banners are in the vexillum form; usually these banners
are termed labara
(Greek:
λάβαρον) after the standard adopted by the
first Christian Roman emperor
Constantine I
which replaced the imperial eagle
with the “Chi-Rho”
symbol
☧
.

The term Vexillum is also used by the
Legion of Mary
as the term for its standard. A
small version is used on the altar and a full size Vexillum leads processions.

Valerius Licinianus Licinius, Licinius II or Licinius the

Younger (approx. 315-326), was the son of Roman emperor

Licinius
.

He nominally served as

Caesar

in the eastern empire from 317 to 324 A.D while his father was

Augustus

. His mother was Licinius’ wife

Flavia Julia Constantia

, who was also the half-sister of

Constantine I

.

After his defeat by Constantine at the

Battle of Chrysopolis

, Licinius the elder was initially spared and placed in

captivity at

Thessalonica

. However, within a year Constantine seems to have regretted his

leniency and the former Emperor was hanged.

The younger Licinius, who was Constantine’s nephew, also fell victim to the

emperor’s suspicions and was killed, probably in the context of the execution of

Crispus
in

326.

Other reports relate that Licinius the younger was forced into slavery in the

imperial textile factories in Africa, where he is noted in 336. However, the

imperial rescript of 336 makes it clear that the “son of Licinianus” referred to

was not Licinius II as it directs that he be reduced to the slave status of his

birth. No son of Constantine’s sister would have been referred to in this

manner.