Struck under Maximinus II, the following coin has reverse legend "Genio Imperatoris ". Genio is there, standing and pouring liquid on altar . I've seen legends like Genio Augusti or Genio Caesaris, among others. What could they mean in each case ? I was also struck by the clear neat portrait of the Emperor on this coin. ANT in exergue for Antioch. Crescent and I across fields. The nearest attribution is RIC VI-133 which points to a star instead of a crescent in left field. The coin weighs 5.83. Please post what could be relevant, especially Maximinus II, or just a comment if you have any. Thanks.
This is the deity thought to be present within the Imperator (emperor) in the case of your coin. Also plenty of folles with the GENIO POPULI ROMANI so the genius of the people of Rome. This has to do with the power of a person/entity. Great summary on this: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Genius
Genio Augusti type, Maximinus II Daia Maximinus as Augustus, Type Reduced AE Follis, 22mm 4.3 grams Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, Laureate head right Reverse: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, holding head of Serapis in right hand, naked but for chamlys over left shoulder, cornucopia in left hand, palm branch at feet Mint: Alexandria Reference: RIC VI 157b, p. 685
Cool find, @7Calbrey ! I have none that appeals to the narcissistic propaganda of the emperor who believes a deity resides in him. However, here are a few that the deity is of the People... RI Maximinus II Daia 305-308 CE Folles AE30 Trier mint GENIO POPV-LI Genius-Serapis stndg RI Maximinus II Daia 305-308 CE AE20 GENIO POPVLI Genius stndg bust of Sol cornu star H RIC IV 164b RI Severus II 306-307 CE AE18 GENIO POPVLI Quarter Folles Siscia mint
Here's a GENIO IMPERATORIS of Heraclea: Galerius, A.D. 305-311. Roman AE follis, 26.0 mm, 7.73 g, 12 h. Heraclea mint, AD 310-311. Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right. Rev: GENIO IMPERATORIS, Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; */HTE Refs: RIC 48a; RCV 14514; Cohen 48.
RIC does not list this type for Maximinus as Caesar only Augustus , it should come before Alexandria 124. Maximinus II A.D. 311 24x25mm 7.6gm GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right. BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS (To the good genius of the pious Emperor) Genius standing left, holding patera & cornucopiae; crescent over K left, A over P right. In ex. ALE RIC VI Alexandria –
Nice coin! This is the closest I have... the same coin just with a star rather than a crescent. Maximinus II - Antioch - RIC VI 133c
Nice coins, everyone. One comment: don't think of "Genius" the way we do today. It didn't really have anything to do with intelligence. Back then the Genius was thought of as a sort of guardian angel or spirit. I have noticed this, too. And many of these coins from Antioch, and to a lesser extent, Alexandria, are still in outstanding states of preservation. My guess is that many were pulled from circulation and hoarded because of the reduction in size of the nummi shortly after they were issued. Here's my GENIO AVGVSTI example from Antioch: Maximinus II ("Daia") Antioch mint, A.D. 312 Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG Rev: GENIO AVGVSTI - Genius, modius on head, naked but for chlamys hanging from shoulder, holding head of Sol and cornucopiae ANT in exergue; ✳ in left field, S in right RIC 164b 22mm, 4.7g.
Just a bit more in Alexandria :BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS. RIC VI 144b The artistry of the head of Galerius looks 20th century!
