The inglorious end of the Tetrarchy

I am saying prayers for you and your wife.

 

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In response to a suggestion by Jamesicus, to flesh out the picture on the FIL AVG inscriptions, here is a quick followup on the FIL AVG(G) issues of 308-309 AD, and a correction of a misidentification above.


The mints were far from uniform in their handing of the FIL AVG title.

2 mints (Siscia and Thessalonica) issued coins for both Maximinus II and Constantine using this title, and in both cases rendered it in the plural as FIL AVGG.

Siscia had two reverse types with these for both, GENIO AVGVSTI and GENIO CAESARIS. The AVGVSTI type for Constantine was shown above.

Thessalonica had two reverses for each, GENIO CAESARIS and VIRTVTI EXERCITVS

The CAESARIS types were shown in my earlier post above. Here is the VIRTVTI type for Max:


3 mints did not recognize FIL AVG at all. Serdica, Heraclea, and Cyzicus. Of these, two (Heraclea and Cyzicus) issued only for Maximinus as Caesar.

(For this reason, the coin Doug had attributed to Heraclea cannot have been from there.)

3 mints issued FIL AVG for Constantine only. For Maximinus the matching issue was as Caesar.
Nicomedia used the same reverse for both, GENIO CAESARIS with CMH(ligatured). That type was shown earlier for Constantine, and appears here for Maximinus:

(The ligatured initials on this reverse type provide the unambiguous basis for attributing Doug's "Heraclea" piece to Nicomedia.)


Alexandria also issued a GENIO CAESARIS reverse for both, with different legends of office on the obverse. Here is the type for Maximinus II:

Antioch is the most complex by far:

For Maximinus: 9 reverses with 2 obv legends (both CAES), 3 reverse types {GENIO CAESARIS (3), VIRTUS EXERCITVS (5), MAXIMINVS NOBILISSIMVS CAESAR (1)}, and field variants.


For Constantine: 4 reverses with 2 obverse legends (1 for FIL AVG), 2 reverse types (GENIO CAESARIS and GENIO FIL AVG), and 2 sets of reverse field variants

The only reverse common to the two was the GENIO CAESARIS, but on the obverses as NOB CAES for Maximinus, and FIL AVG for Constantine. Despite the apparent intention to deny the FIL AVG title to Maximinus, the second reverse type for Constantine, GENIO FIL AVGG, slips it in via the plural. Although used on two separate issues for Constantine, this legend does not appear on any of the coins for Maximinus.

Here are two examples for Maximinus:

Early in the series, the VIRTVS EXERCITVS reverse, with Virtus advancing right holding a spear (transversly), a shield, and shouldering a trophy, also displayed a crescent in the right field just above the officina mark. In the exergue a dot either preceded or followed the mintmark.

Later, for the GENIO CAESARIS type, the Genius of the emperor stands scantly clad facing left, cradling a cornucopia with his left arm and pouring liquid from a patera with his right. An altar now appears in the left field, and the officina mark in the right (here delta epsilon for officina 9). The exergual dot has been replaced by a star.



I hope this helps clarify the question of how the FIL AVG inscriptions were handled and what the use of the singular or plural endings signified from mint to mint.

 

@jamesicus

So sorry to hear that you are dealing with your wife's health issues. I hope she feels better soon.

 

Thank you to everyone who posted such kind and thoughtful expressions of concern and encouragement -- they are much appreciated. It is going to take me some time to catch up with the happenings in this thread -- I have been out of action for the past few days taking care of Beverly. She is home now and responding well to treatment. We now hope to continue to grow older together.

 

That was a great post @lrbguy! Thank you. Very useful information, and very well presented!

 

I recently purchased this Maxentius coin from Victor Clark:

RIC VI, Ostia, No. 35, Maxentius as Augustus:


IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG .............................. AETERNITAS AVG N -- MOSTP

Ostia Mint.
Rev: Castor & Pollux facing each other leaning on staff and holding horse (Dioscuri)

 

Very nice work! If readers want to know more of the history and politics and want to see more coins, they can visit this educational web site:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/FILAVGG/

 

Oh yes, Warren, thank you for posting that link. Yours is a much more detailed offering -- excellent.

 

The sad part is is my catalog says 'Nicomedia' but I just looked at the photo and misread it without looking it up. Post in haste, repent in leisure.

 

Very nice example of this issue, Sallent.

 

Thank you @chrsmat71. Everything I have posted here is included in a more readable form on my information and reference website “THE BRITANNIC COINAGE OF THE TETRARCHY” at:

http://jp29.org/cdir.htm

 

Nice! I have one coin from Ostia.