Sorry, but here's another Tetrarchy period coin, this one from Carthage. It was the second last type to be struck in that city before the vicarius of Africa, Domitius Alexander rebelled against Maxentius in 308 AD. I was drawn to the reverse design with its distinctive personification of Africa armed with an elephant tusk. The design was used earlier in Carthage by the original tetrarchs, but with different legends. MAXENTIUS (28 Oct 306 – 28 Oct 312) AE Follis, 27.5mm, 10.27g Carthage mint, 2nd officina, early 307 AD, RIC 57 O: IMP MAXENTIVS PF AVG, laureate head right. R: CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE, SE-F in field, Africa standing left, wearing elephant skin headdress and holding standard and elephant tusk, at feet to left a lion with captured bull (squint hard and use your imagination), B in exergue. It's not a feature of this coin, but coins of Maxentius carrying the title of princeps and caesar were only ever struck at Carthage. I believe Carthage was also the only mint operating during the First Tetrarchy period that didn't issue the Genius types (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). Z.
Very nice. Dont like Tetrarchy coins much but this one at least has a different reverse then the norm.
That's an important coin, and a handsome example of such. You've collected some great pieces lately, Z. Two thumbs up!
Awesome new addition, Z-bro!! => yah, I'm lovin' Africa armed with elephant tusk (man, that almost gets animal-coin credit!!) Great coin (congrats!!) => nice ... I just noticed this sweet animal-addition (very cool => on my want-list)
Here is my example of the caesar type:- Maxentius as Caesar Obv:- M AVR MAXENTIVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right Rev:- SALVIS AVGG ET CAES FEL KART, Carthage standing facing, head left, holding up fruits in both hands Struck in Carthage late 306 A.D. H in left field, Greek_Delta in exe. References:- RIC VI Carthage 51a.
Sweet coin, Martin!! yah, I've only got the one example of Maxentius ... but I love postin' it!! ... Aquileia
Very nice! Incidentally, I notice you have a typo in your attribution. The reverse legend reads SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART.
Maxentius AE Follis. Minted at Rome, 308-310 AD. 5.5g, 25mm OBV: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. REV: CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated facing, head left, holding orb, in hexastyle temple with peaked roof, wreath in pediment. REF: RIC Rome 210
While updating my catalog I decided to rephotograph a few coins that were simply awful in their previous shots. Of course the coins may not deserve anything more than awful because they are equally bad. One was a Maxentius that I don't recall seeing very often. I paid $5 for it years ago and suspect it is worth that since it is almost full legend and scarce. I have seen decent ones under $100 but not as frequently as the full folles. I post this partly because someone mentioned how boring the coins of this period were. I had missed that. I do need to look for an upgrade. Maxentius, AE half follis, Ostia mint, military bust left/Victory inscribing shield VOT XX FEL - VICTORIA A ETERNA AVG / MOSTP?
