Frequently here we hear the opinion that more of us would like the larger coins of the Tetrarchy if only they were not all those Genius types. In an attempt to avoid Genius, I seem to be getting too many of the other common 'someone standing there' folles but the appeal of the larger coins made me buy another one. This 27mm AE1 is of Galerius Caesar from the period when his coins were inscribed simply Maximianus Nob Caes sometimes causing them to be confused with Maximianus Herakles who had no coins as Caesar. This one is from the Rome mint with Moneta. The long reverse legend is SACRA MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN. Part of the appeal to me is the condition of the coin combined with just enough patina scatter and retained silvering to make the coin look natural rather than processed. There is something to be said for learning when to stop cleaning a coin. I also have a matching coin from Diocletian from officina P rather than the Q of the new coin. The Diocletian is not as well detailed on the reverse figure but has a much more clear thunderbolt in the mintmark. Still the two look good together. The Galerius cost nearly twice the price of the Diocletian partly due to the grade difference and partly due to the fact it came from an auction while the Diocletian was from a dealer at a show. Was it worth it? I do not have a show to attend until May so the auction coins looked better to my impatience.
Nearly all my large coins have genio except for this one. Constantius I (Caesar) Coin: Bronze Follis CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES - Laureate head right FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN - Africa standing to left in elephant headdress, holding standard and tusk, lion with captured bull at feet. Exergue: Mint: Carthage (297 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 9.76g / 27mm / - References: RIC VI Carthage 22a
Similar to mine, Doug. Just different mint and larger legend. Galerius (305 - 311 A.D.) Æ(S) Follis O: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate head right. R: SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia, SIS in exergue, star in left field, B in right field. Siscia 301 A.D. 10.08g 28mm RIC VI 135b Sisci
Wonderful posts!! Alas, my sole example of Galerius (and all large Folli) is the 'genio' type-----But here's one of Maxentius with the Temple reverse.....
Doug's posts are wonderful, informative, and well-illustrated. However, I think the Genius types are great too! Galerius, of the very common GENIO POPVLI ROMANI type, much maligned, but interesting nonetheless. 26 mm. 9.81 grams. Struck c. 296-7 at Ticinum. RIC VI Ticinum 32b. Much silvering remaining.
In fact, I agree but after buying several coins with this same type, I look for a bit of variety. Even if we stay with Genius, there is variety in obverse portraits or reverse legends. Below are a few Genius types with added features. Bust left Diocletian - Trier mint XXI alloy marked Diocletian - Alexandria mint Long legend reverse but still a Genius (as if being Severus II is not special enough to add interest) - Cyzicus mint CMH value mark Galerius - Nicomedia mint There must be a thousand of them.
Galerius is the kind of guy I only have "geniusses" of, but in various styles : Delicate in Heraclea Galerius, Follis Heraclea mint, 5th officina, c. AD 296-298 GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Laureate bust of Galerius right GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, , Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia, HTE at exergue 10.58 gr Ref : RCV # 14372 (90), Cohen #78 Envious (suffering from "altaration") in Lugdunum : 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 Relax in Trier : Galerius, Follis, Trier mint, c. AD 303-305 MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C, laureate and cuirassed bust right. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, wearing chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera in right hand, left cornucopiae; S | F in field, PTR at exergue 8.41 gr 28 mm Ref : RCV # 14349 (90), C # 83, RIC VI, Trier, 594b Q
I could choose Galerius with Carthage on reverse- Cohen 191. And also Diocletian with turreted Genius on reverse- Trier 582 a. PTR.
Galerius Silvered Follis Date: 305-306 AD Serdica mint Diameter: 27.6 mm Weight: 10.4 grams Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG - Laureate bust of Galerius Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI - Genius holding patera from which liquid flows and cornucopiae. [dot]SM[dot]SD in ex. D in r. field References: RIC 12b
my only one is a genius..... of the the "delicate" types as Q shows. Galerius as caesar, 293 – 305 AD, Æ Follis GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES Laureate head r. Rev. GENIO POPV – LI ROMANI Genius standing l., with modius on head and naked but for chlamys , holding patera and cornucopiae; S in r. field, D in l. field, ANT In exergue, Antioch, 28 mm, 9.9g, RIC 53b.
OP coin is superb, as are many others in this thread. I don't have a Galerius with Moneta reverse, but here's one from his fellow junior Augustus, Constantius I. And now I feel bad for the times I've made fun of the Genius types... but we kid because we love! Anyway, to make amends, here are my three Genii of Galerius. London Genius: Cyzicus Genius: Siscia Genius:
