Today the postman brought another eBay coin that the rest of you did not feel was worth outbidding me on (I thank you very much). The seller identified it as an AE1 Follis of Maximianus RIC 166b of which I agree with the AE1 follis part. What do you say? It is Lugdunum mint and reads MAXIMIANVS NOB C but RIC 166b has a left facing portrait. Both 164b and 166b are coins of Galerius which matches the fact that my coin could not be Maximianus who never issued coins as Caesar. I'll not hold that error against him and the photo makes the right bust no great surprise either. I really would prefer sellers just post pictures and not bother with ID's anyway. My question here is how many of you recognized this error before reading below the photo? I know some of you have posted negative comments on these boring Genius coins but I really like the portrait here. Some neck!
Wow Doug, that is such a fabulous coin!! (congrats) I only have a half-baked example of Maximianus: Ummm, but I do have a pretty good example of that same reverse (Constantius I) => that is a fantastic addition (I'm totally jealous)
That's OK, Steve. As a consolation prize, I'm sending you the weather we had here for the last two days with low temperature of 9 above F. Much of the US including some of us in the South have been suffering with this but I suspect you would see it as a heat wave and appreciate it a lot more than we would. Give the state of postal service between our countries, this gift might not arrive until April first but I hope you realize it is the thought that counts. I regret I do not know of a single ancient coin that shows weather or cold. We have sacificial fires but I don't know of one that shows people warming themselves around a fire. Anyone?
Cilicia Tarsos? Cilicia, Tarsos AE22 Circa 100 BC Diameter: 22 mm Weight: 9.78 grams Obverse: Turreted head of Tyche right, Countermark: Radiate head of Helios right (CM: Howgego 11? Hierapolis Phrygia circa 50AD) Reverse: "TAPSEWN" Pyre of Sandan in the form of a pyramid, Sandan on a lion within Reference: SNG Levante 951ff => just kickin' back enjoying a good ol' heated lion-ride!!
Maximianus. AE Radiate fraction, 305-306 AD. Alexandria. 2.9g, 20.56mm OBV: IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right. REV: CONCORDIA MI-LITVM, Emperor standing right holding Victory on globe with Jupiter standing left, holding sceptre. Lower centre: gamma. Mintmark: ALE. REF: RIC VI Alexandria 59b
I suspected it was Galerius after your first paragraph, only because I made a similar mistake recently on your quiz thread over at FORVM and got corrected by no less than a numismatic personage than Curtis Clay. Clearly I have more studying to do. Anyway, nothing boring about the coin at all, in my book. Great catch!
All this would be so much easier if only history had decided to call the guy Maximianus II so people would acknowledge that there was a problem. There is no coin which calls him Galerius without following it with Maximianus and even Galerius is abbreviated GAL.
I'll admit I did not notice. But neither have I looked on ebay in months, so I didn't pass it up (but probably would have). It's a nice looking portrait for sure even if the reverse is a "boring Genius" type.
Having read that really good Doug Smith page on the various Maxes of the Tetrarchy, it was obviously Galerius to me. Here it is, for anyone even slightly interested in this period : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/max.html
