For the last several years I've been looking for a nummus (follis) of co-emperor Maximian from the Lugdunum Mint (Lyon, France), to complete a set of the 4 members of the 1st Tetrarchy from that mint, & recently found an example that I liked pictured below . The coin had to be high grade to fit with the others; maybe that's why it has taken so long. To make the challenge even grater prices for high grade examples have surged since the Covid-19 pandemic began. I have similar sets of 4 from the London, Ticinum, Trier & Cyzicus mints . Pictured below are examples of the other 3 members from that mint including a nummus of Constantius I, after he was given the title of Augustus in AD 305. One thing that surprised me was the NGC label on the recently acquired Maximian coin. They named the denomination Follis instead of Nummus . Most collectors call these coins folles instead of nummi, although nummi is considered historically more accurate. Is this a new trend by NGC or have I got an oddball label on this coin ? CT members are welcome to post their nummi or folles from the Lugdunum Mint .
Very nice set. Yes I've found sometimes one coin or other that isn't especially rare proves very difficult to get in great condition like yours. Which mint are you going for next? All my Lugdunum coins are just before or after the Tetrarchy, and so are such things as antoniniani and siliquae. This one was described by CNG simply as an Æ, which I think counts as a nummus. Decentius as Caesar Æ2, 350-353 Lugdunum, Officina P. Bronze, 23mm, 5.9g. Bareheaded and cuirassed bust right, D N DECENTI-VS NOB CAES. Large Chi-Rho ☧, flanked by A and ω, SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES. Mintmark PPLG (RIC VIII 157/9). One of the first overly Christian coins to circulate in Britain. Ex Bridgnorth Hoard, found in Shropshire in 2007, possibly buried after 353 when Constantius II had defeated Magnentius and outlawed coins of Magnentius and his brother Decentius. Either bury them, or get hunted down by Paul the Chain.
John, Your Decentius follis is a very handsome coin with an important provenance ! The next mints I'm working on are Rome & Aquileia.
Congratulations on completing your mini-set, @Al Kowsky! Very lovely examples, too! I always get a smug feeling of accomplishment when I obtain a long-sought-after coin! Well done! I have a couple of GENIOs. Constantius I, Caesar, 293-305. Roman billon follis, 9.95 g, 26.6 mm, 11 h. Trier, AD 296-97. Obv: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae; A/Γ//TR. Refs: RIC vi, p. 183, 218a; Cohen 61; RCV 14035. Constantius I, Caesar, 293-305. Roman billon follis, 9.83 g, 26.3 mm, 5 h. Antioch, AD 300-301. Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; K/B-V//ANT. Refs: RIC vi, p. 620, 55a; Cohen 89; RCV 14069.
R.C., I really like your Antioch follis with the K V in the fields . For some reason really choice folles from Antioch have escaped me , which seems strange since I have so many choice Tets from that mint.
I have no post reform Maximianus from Lugdunum but this is a a pre-reform antoninianus of Lugdunum for comparison. My Constantius would not grade so high due to wear but was struck evenly head to toe on Genius which is not all that common on these. Slightly later is this Constantius I with wear and surface issues compounding the weaker strike on the top part of Genius. This coin bears a bit of added meaning to me since I got it for $10 from Victor Failmezger while he was writing his book in 2000. Victor was less interested in mints than in types so this somewhat ordinary coin did not make the cut. Today, Lugdunum coins seem to appeal to more collectors. Again my Galerius for Lugdunum is pre-reform. For some reason I have always preferred pre-reform coins and those for the Caesars are less common. Finally there is the Galerius follis for this mint. This coin pretty much typifies what I usually seek in this period. It has decent striking and surfaces but is not so perfect that it appeals to people willing to pay the premium for coins over VF. The strike and style on the Genius head is appealing to me but there is weakness in the thighs and altar. This series really is not all that easy to find with solid, even strikes, good surfaces and fine style. When you add a preference for left busts and retained silvering, it gets harder. You have some excellent coins.
Your Diocletian here stuck out to me. Really nice. Are these your photos? Did you crack these? Just curious. NGC photos aren't exactly trueview quality, but at least everyone gets one
Doug, You've posted a handsome group of coins . I've stayed away from the Tetrarchy radiates because I prefer the larger nummi. Some of the radiates are much more difficult to find than the nummi & can get very pricy. I like the 1st coin you posted with the PAX reverse . You're right about the lefties being pricy, they get gobbled up quickly too.
Evan, All the nummi I posted were photographed before being slabbed except the Maximian, that I bought slabbed. The Diocletian is a blazer . The Diocletian & Galerius nummi look almost interchangeable except for the obverse inscriptions.
I noticed that - very similar, but both are very pretty. Good finds, glad you love them. I don't have any coins from Lugdunum - I would like to someday considering I have a familial connection to the Lyon area.
Beautiful coins as always @Al Kowsky ! These big folles are nice in hand, especially with as much detail as yours. Here is a Lugdunum Diocletian Roman Empire Diocletian, AD 284-305 AE Follis, Lugdunum Mint, 1st officina, struck ca. AD 295 Dia.: 28 mm Wt.: 8.5 g Obv.: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Laureate bust right Rev.: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI: Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia /LA in exergue Ref.: RIC VI 2a, Lugdunum Group I, Class II Ex Jamesicus Collection
Nice set and achievement @Al Kowsky Maximianus, Follis - Atelier de Lyon, AD 304-305 IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG. Buste lauré et cuirassé de Maximien Hercule à droite, avec pan de paludamentum, vu de trois quarts en avant (B*01). GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI/ (AUTEL)|*// PLG. Génie debout à gauche, coiffé du modius, le manteau sur l'épaule gauche, tenant une patère de la main droite et une corne d'abondance de la main gauche. 8,15 gr - 27,5 mm Ref : RIC # 175b, Cohen # 198 Galerius, Follis - Lyon mint (Lugdunum), 1st officina, AD 303-305 MAXIMIANVS NOB C, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Galerius rigtht GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left holding cornucopia and wreath, before him an altar. PLG at exergue, star in right field 10.01 gr Ref : Cohen #92, RCV # 14356 (100), RIC VI # 178b Q
Curtis, Nice score . I've been looking for a MS early issue like your follis for a long time without success . They are scarcer than hen's teeth.
Q, Those are a couple of gems . Your 1st follis is a jaw dropper ! They don't get any better than that one . Both sides are perfectly struck from fresh dies .
Congrats on completing the set, @Al Kowsky! Impressive coins as always. I don't have much to share from the tetrarchs. Here's a favorite Diocletian from Heraclea. Diocletian, BI Nummus, Heraclea, AD 296-297 Obv: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; HTΔ in exergue Ref: RIC Diocletian Heraclea 17a