I recently acquired this follis of Severus II. Despite the somewhat weak reverse strike, I think it's a nice example. Of all the legitimate tetrarchs, Sev Deuce's tenure was the shortest and most unfortunate, making his coins a bit harder to acquire than those of his colleagues of the same reverse type. This reverse, Sacra Moneta, was issued in the name of all the tetrarchs and was issued by several mints throughout the empire. For an in-depth look at this reverse type, I highly recommend @Valentinian's web page about them. Severus II, Caesar 1 May AD 305 - 25 July, 306. Roman billon follis, 9.10 g, 27.1 mm, 11 h. Rome, third officina, c. AD 305. Obv: SEVERVS NOB CAES, laureate head, right. Rev: SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; -/*//R T. Refs: RIC vi, p. 365, 123a; Cohen 62; RCV 14638. Let's see your coins of Sev Deuce, Sacra Monetas of the other tetrarchs, or anything you feel is relative!
That is a very nice example. Attractive coins of Severus II are not easy to find! Severus II, Roman Empire, AE silvered Follis, 305–306 AD, Heraclea mint. Obv: FL VAL SEVERVS NOBIL CAES; laureate bust of Severus II r. Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius of the Roman People standing l., holding patera and cornucopiae; in exergue, HTS. 28mm, 11.24g. Ref: RIC VI Heraclea 25,S.
Great addition, RC. Severus II (305 - 307 A.D.) Æ Follis O:SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; altar left, star right: PLC in exeergue. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint 8.83g 29mm RIC VI 193 Ex CNG Electric Auction, Lot 372, 1/10/2008 Ex. Gordon S. Perry Collection
Severus II. As Caesar. 305-306 AD. Æ Follis (28mm, 8.72 gm, 12h). Heraclea mint, 4th officina. Obv: Laureate head right. Rev: Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; HTΔ in exergue. RIC VI 25
Diocletian. 286-305 AD. Æ Follis (30mm, 11.65 gm, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa 300-301 AD. Obv: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right. Rev: SACRA MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopia in left; R-crescent-P in ex. RIC VI 111a.
Domitian, Æ As Rome, 87 AD 26 x 27 mm, 10.004 g RIC II Domitian 547; BMC 402; BN 481; Cohen 329; Ob.: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIII CENS PER PP laureate head r. Rev.: MONETA - AVGVSTI, Moneta standing l., holding scales and cornucopia; in field, S - C The term Moneta was used by the Romans to designate their public mint, because originally money was struck at the temple of Juno Moneta in Rome. The name “Moneta” was afterwards used alike to mean pieces of money, as well as the workshops or officinae in which they were struck. The reverse of this coin shows Domitian as guarantor and custodian of the money.
Nice one, @Roman Collector I just got a Severus II last week - the mysterious Quarter Follis. @Valentinian has a very informative site on these here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/qf/ Severus II Æ Quarter Follis (305-306 A.D.) Siscia mint FL VAL SEVERVS NOB C, laureate head right / GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys holding patera & cornucopiae, SIS in ex. RIC VI Siscia 170a; Cohen 32. (2.24 grams / 19 x 17 mm) "In AD 305-306, just as the first tetrarchy was ending and the second beginning, the Roman mint of Siscia struck an AE type of unusual denomination... We don't know what it was called then, but in modern literature it is often termed the "quarter follis" or "denarius." Although there were 16 mints in the Roman empire striking coins at the time, only Siscia minted this small denomination, and only for a very short time..." Augustuscoins.com I also have a follis, but not the Moneta type: Severus II Æ Follis (305-306 A.D.) Heraclea mint IMP C FLA VAL SEVERVS P F AVG, laureate head right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI Genius, naked, standing left, modius on head, with patera and cornucopia, HTB in ex. Heraclea RIC VI 30, B (9.16 grams / 28 mm)
here's Maximianus with a big head but strangely tiny face. Maximianus A.D. 301 26x27mm 9.6g IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right. SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left with scales & cornucopiae; V in right field. In ex. AQS RIC VI Aquileia 31b
R.C., Nice pickup on a scarce coin ! I managed to score a nice example of the same type coin, from the same mint & officina as your coin, from Harlan Berk over 20 years ago, see photo below . About 3 years ago I scored a Maximian follis from a Roma E-sale similar to the one Victor posted, but from 1st officina instead of the 2nd, see photo below . Maximian, c. AD 300, Aquileia Mint, 1st Officina. AE Follis: 9.87 gm, 28 mm, 11 h. RIC 29b. The Diocletian follis pictured below I won from a Freeman & Sear auction about 14 years ago . Diocletian, c. AD 300, Aquileia Mint, 2nd Officina. AE Follis: 10.09 gm, 28 mm, 6 h. RIC 29a.
I forgot to add in my earlier post that this "sacred money" was likely issued because of Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices in an attempt to bolster public confidence in the financial system. The edict was issued in 301; while some of the "sacred" coins were struck as early as 300, possibly early damage control, trying to get ahead of the message.
I forgot I had a "sacred money" follis of Constantinus I Chlorus. Note the big head with a tiny face - like Victor's this one is from Aquileia. Perhaps a celator's signature style? Fernando Botero moonlighting? Constantius I Chlorus as Caes. (struck by Maximian) Follis (301 A.D.) Aquileia Mint CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right / SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae, V in right field, mintmark AQΓ. RIC VI Aquileia 32a. (8.70 grams / 26 mm)