VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP

    Constantine issued these coins intermittently from 313-320. Arles - 319-320, London - 318-320, Lugdunum (Lyon) - 319-320, Rome – circa 315 (gold issue), Siscia - 318-320, Ticinum- 318-319, Trier - 313, 318-319. The billon (roughly 25% percent silver) coin was the first appearance of VLPP type. Circa 313 A.D., Trier struck this coin along with two other billon types of the same denomination-- for more information, go to the page about the billon coins from Trier. The VLPP's of 318- 320 had circa 4% silver. Here is a page with line drawings of the VLPP's in the Vienna collection from the book by Guido Bruck, Die Spätrömische Kupferprägung - Ein Bestimmungsbuch Für Schlecht Erhaltene Münzen.

     VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP translates as  "Joyous (well-earned) victory to the eternal Prince" and VOT PR engraved on the shield is VOTA  POPVLI  ROMANI  "vows of the Roman people"
 

    This page is about coins from Siscia and they are arranged by RIC number, but there are also references to the Bikic-Do hoard.¹ This hoard contained 406 VLPP's from Siscia.  At Siscia these coins were eventually issued for all five rulers at the time (Constantine I, Licinius I, Crispus, Licinius II and Constantine II); but the first series,ASIS✶ [with the long reverse legend], was issued only for Constantine (RIC 47-51). The next series (RIC 52-58) was only issued for the Constantine family members. It is interesting to note that the heroic bust with spear and shield (the H12 bust and also the H11 with just spear) was only issued for Constantine and was never issued for Licinius -- he is always depicted as just laureate. After Constantine's victory at the Milvian Bridge, the helmet may have even been  association with Christianity, and some rare examples even have a chi-rho in the crossbar.

    Constantine had just won the territory of Siscia from Licinius in 317. Siscia was also the farthest east of the mints that issued the VLPP's, so it was closest to the remaining territory of Licinius. Constantine was also having troubles with "barbarians" from the North. This military bust may been propaganda on the part of Constantine aimed at  Licinius and perhaps the fractious Northern tribes-- a little reminder that God was on his side!

    RIC VII describes the reverse of these coins as two victories holding a shield. It is actually a wreath though. This reverse is just like the type issued a few years later by Magnentius, which RIC VIII correctly describes as two victories holding a wreath. My descriptions call it a shield, following RIC VII, but it is a wreath, which is evidenced by the wreath ties easily visible on the top of most examples. If you look closely on a clear example, you will see that only one victory is holding the wreath. The other victory is actually inscribing the wreath. You can see the stylus in the hand of victory on some examples. The reverse description should be something like this: two Victories standing, facing one another, one inscribing wreath with VOT PR, while the other Victory holds the wreath above an altar. RIC also describes the bust as cuirassed only, but on some of the H11 and H12 busts, they are draped and cuirassed, and even rarer, some show only drapery, and no trace of cuirass. There are a variety of designs on the shields and helmets, especially in the crossbars. Sometimes the shields are inscribed with a horseman leaping over a fallen enemy, but this design is predominantly  from officina B.  I have put a horse icon next to coins that have a horseman on the shield.
 

    The chart below is a quick reference for I.D. The obverse legend can have various breaks. The officinae that minted these coins are A,B,gamma,delta and epsilon. Even though some may not be listed in RIC, they are all to be expected. Starting with RIC 73, there is an  I on altar for off. A and B; and an S on altar for off. gamma,delta, and epsilon. It is not known what, if anything, these letters stand for. It is tempting to think an S and I stood for Siscia, but other mints also use letters which could not stand for their respective cities. The reverse legends starting with RIC 81 are the shorter VICT.legends. There are many variations in the altar design, but I do not pay much attention to the differences for any classification purposes,since there does not seem to be any pattern. The earlier issues (RIC 47-56) are on a small (and thicker) flan with a small portrait and have a higher relief. As the issues continue (this is most evident by the short reverse legend), the flans and portrait become larger (the flan is also thinner) and the relief is smaller.

RIC 47	A.D. 318 18mm    3.3gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ASIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 47
	A.D. 318 19mm    2.6gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. BSIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 47
	A.D. 318 19x18mm    3.2 IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG  -- laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex.  Γ SIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 47
RIC 48	A.D. 318 20x19mm    3.0gm IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG -- laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar in ex.   ΓSIS ✶  RIC VII Siscia 48
RIC 49	A.D. 318  19mm    3.5gm  IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG --  high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder.  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. ASIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 49
	A.D. 318 18mm    2.8gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. BSIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 49  unlisted officina
	A.D. 318 18mm     3.3gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuiraissed with spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. BSIS✶ RIC VII Siscia 49
	A.D. 318 19x20mm    3.2gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG  -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ΓSIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 49   unlisted officina
	A.D. 318 19x18mm    2.8gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG  --   high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP  -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PRon altar. in ex. ∆SIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 49   unlisted officina
	A.D. 318 19x17mm    2.8gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ESIS ✶ RIC VII Siscia 49  unlisted officina
RIC 50	A.D. 318 17x18mm    2.8gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG --high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. ASIS✶  RIC VII Siscia 50
	A.D. 318 19x17mm    2.8gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield inscribed with horseman on left arm  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. BSIS✶ RIC VII Siscia 50
	A.D. 318  19x18mm    2.8gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield inscribed with horseman on left arm  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar (star on altar).  in ex.  ∆SIS✶   RIC VII Siscia 50
	A.D. 318 19mm 2.6gm  IMP CONSTANTI-NVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield inscribed with cross-like design VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. ESIS✶     RIC VII Siscia 50       unlisted obverse legend break
RIC 52	A.D. 318-19 18mm   3.3gm IMP CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG -- helmeted, laureate and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar . In ex. ΓSIS     RIC VII Siscia 52 This coin shows the first use of the title MAX in the East for Constantine, and the first and only use for the Siscia VLPP.
RIC 53	A.D. 318-19 20x19mm    3.0gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- helmeted, laureate, cuirassed VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  in ex. BSIS     RIC VII Siscia 53
	A.D. 318-19 17x18mm    3.1gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; helmeted, laureate, cuirassed VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR.  in ex. BSIS     RIC VII Siscia 53
	A.D. 318-19 19mm    2.7gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- helmeted, laureate, cuirassed VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR in ex. ∆SIS   RIC VII Siscia 53
	A.D. 318-19 18mm    2.6gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- helmeted, laureate, cuirassed VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  in ex.  ESIS     RIC VII Siscia 53
	A.D. 318-19 18mm    3.3gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR.  in ex.  ESIS     RIC VII Siscia 53  Unusual decorated helmet
✶ on helmet	18mm    2.7gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- cuirassed bust right wearing laureate helmet decorated with star. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR. In ex. ESIS      RIC VII Siscia 53   star on helmet
✶ on helmet	18mm    2.7gm IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- cuirassed bust right wearing laureate helmet decorated with star. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR. In ex. ESIS      RIC VII Siscia 53   star on helmet
Unlisted H6 bust	A.D. 318-19  19mm    2.6gm  IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG -- laureate helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder and shield on left (very small shield!) VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.                                 in ex. ΓSIS                                              RIC does not list bust type H6      should be after Siscia 53
	A.D. 318-19 19mm    3.0g IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right with spear across right shoulder and shield/ buckler on left. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ΓSIS     RIC VII Siscia –
	A.D. 318-19 18x19mm     2.7g IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right with spear across right shoulder and shield/ buckler on left. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ΓSIS     RIC VII Siscia –
RIC 54	A.D. 318-19 19x18mm    3.6gm IMP CONST-ANTINVS AVG -- helmeted, laureate, cuirassed VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. ASIS     RIC VII Siscia 54
	A.D. 318-19  19mm 2.6gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- helmeted, laureate, cuirassed  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar.  in ex. ASIS RIC VII Siscia 54
RIC 55	A.D. 318-19 19x17mm    2.6gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. BSIS   RIC VII Siscia 55
	A.D. 318-19  18mm    3.0gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet with circle over crescent (sun over moon) in crossbar, cuir., spear across right shoulder.  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PER[P] -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. BSIS   RIC VII Siscia 55       Note that there was not room for the P in PERP on reverse
	A.D. 318-19  19mm    3.0gm  IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet with circle over crescent (sun over moon) in crossbar, cuir., spear across right shoulder.  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar.  in ex. BSIS   RIC VII Siscia 55
	A.D. 318-19 19mm    2.6gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. BSIS   RIC VII Siscia 55
	A.D. 318-19 20x19mm    3.4gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet with an X in the crossbar of the helmet , cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. BSIS  RIC VII Siscia 55
	A.D. 318-19 19x18mm    3.2gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG --  high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. ΓSIS  RIC VII Siscia 55
	A.D. 318-19 18mm    3.5gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG --  high crested helmet with wavy line and dots on either side in crossbar, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. ΓSIS   RIC VII Siscia 55
	A.D. 318-19  19x17mm 3.1gm  IMP CONSTANT-[INVS] AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder.  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. ΓSIS   RIC VII Siscia 55
	Constantine I A.D. 318-19 17x18mm     3.0g IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder [sceptre? in left]. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. BSIS  RIC VII Siscia 55 what looks like it may be a sceptre in left hand
	A.D. 318-19 19mm 3.1gm IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder; right hand holding parazonium[?]. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. in ex. ΓSIS  RIC VII Siscia 55
Unlisted H11 bust	A.D. 318-19 21x20mm    2.6gm CONSTANTI-NVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across right shoulder. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. ESIS     Unlisted in RIC      should be before RIC 56
RIC 56	A.D. 318-19  18mm    2.3gm  IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm inscribed with horseman.  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. BSIS  RIC VII Siscia 56
	A.D. 318-19 18mm     3.0gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm inscribed with horseman. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. BSIS RIC VII Siscia 56   from the Bishop's Wood Hoard of 1895
	A.D. 318-19 18x19mm    2.7gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm inscribed with horseman. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar. In ex. BSIS RIC VII Siscia 56   Horseman leaping over two fallen enemies
hippocamp	A.D. 318-19  18mm    2.4gm  IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm inscribed with hippocamp.  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. BSIS  RIC VII Siscia 56   Hippocamp on shield
	A.D. 318-19 19mm   3.4gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG; high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. ΔSIS  RIC VII Siscia 56  unlisted workshop
	A.D. 318-19 19x18mm    3.0gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. ESIS  RIC VII Siscia 56       obverse die match with next coin
	A.D. 318-19 18x19mm    3.4gm IMP CONSTAN-TINVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar. in ex. ESIS  RIC VII Siscia 56       obverse die match with previous coin
	A.D. 318-19  19mm    3.3gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm  VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP --  two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR  on altar.  in ex. ESIS  RIC VII Siscia 56
	A.D. 318-19 19x17mm   2.0gm IMP CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm. VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.  in ex. ESIS  RIC VII Siscia 56

^¹ Jean-Pierre Callu's analysis of the Bikic-Do hoard appeared in Sirmium VIII. Études de Numismatique Danubienne: Trésors, Lingots, Imitations. Monnaies de Fouilles IV au XII Siècle (Rome: Ecole  francaise de Rome, 1978), which was edited by Noël Duval and Vladislav Popovic.