ID help: Maximian quarter follis?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Gavin Richardson, Jan 11, 2019.

  1. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    IMG_7813.JPG

    So I’ve had this coin in my junk box for quite a while and almost tossed it in the cull pile, especially since the badly worn obverse makes it hard to identify. The obverse features a laureate head facing right, with a dense, illegible legend. The reverse, on the other hand, is pretty good, showing a draped Genius standing left, holding a patera and cornucopiae. The reverse legend is GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI. It was struck in Siscia. The coin is small; 18.39 mm. 1.74 g. 180°.

    After looking around, I think the coin may be a quarter-follis of Maximian. RIC VI Siscia 146?

    The density of the legend matches his obverse legends, even though I can’t make out individual letters. If it is a quarter-follis, then it’s a pretty rare coin and worth hanging onto even if in bad shape. These were thought to be struck at about the time of Maximian’s abdication in 305.

    Can anyone offer some thoughts on this tentative identification, or suggest alternate candidates?
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I believe the quarter folles were most abundantly struck at Siscia. I can't exactly make out the obverse legend, but I think I see an "X" in there indicating it could be Maximian. Here's my quarter folle of Siscia struck in the name of Severus II.

    Severus II, Quarter Follis
    Obverse: SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate head right
    Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius Standing left, modius on head, naked except for chamlys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopia.

    19mm, approximately 3 gm, A.D. 305-306

    Reference: RIC VI, Siscia 171a

    severus1.jpg

    severus2.jpg
     
  4. Gavin Richardson

    Gavin Richardson Well-Known Member

    I think you're right. I'm no @TIF, but I've overlain some Maximian quarter folles from VCoins and the legends match up. Here's what (I think) I'm seeing:

    Screenshot 2019-01-11 10.22.13.png
     
    TIF, gogili1977, Johndakerftw and 2 others like this.
  5. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I agree with your ID. I call mine Galerius.
    ru4020bb2327.jpg
     
  7. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    Same coin as Mr.Doug Smith.
    MAXIMIANVS AVG
    GENIO POPULI ROMANI
    Siscia
    Rated R2 10 years ago…...now quite common it seems….. GALERIUS.JPG
     
  8. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    I collected six different quarter folles from Siscia until now:
    Maximian, RIC 146
    120-09-Maximian.jpg
    Constantius, RIC 167
    121-02-Constantius.jpg Constantius, RIC 169a
    121-05-Constantius.jpg
    Galerius, RIC 169b
    122-05-Galerius.jpg
    Severus II, RIC 170a
    127-01-Severus II.jpg
    Maximinus II, RIC 171b
    128-04-Maximinus.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2019
  9. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

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