I am afraid I can only read the inscriptions on the first two coins with any certainty (I do have diminished vision). Their titulature combined with the portraiture, marks them as Maximian Herculius (Maximianus) folles. The next two (?) coins appear to be coins of Galerius Maximian (Galerius) and the last one Maximinus II (Daia). Please post the obverse inscriptions as you read them from the coins in hand so I can render a more definitive response.
The obverse inscriptions: 1. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, Exe: ALE 2. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, ?Exe: KA 3. MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Exe: SIS 4. GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, ?Exe: KA 5. GAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, Exe: SMTS 6. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, ?Exe: HTG
Yes. It has GAL in the name.. The Augustus we call Galerius was named C. Galerius Valerius Maximianus. His coins which used legends such as IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG can easily be confused with coins of Maximianus Herculius who was M. Aurelius Valerius Maximianus. Both have "Valerius" and "Maximianus" in their names, which is why we use "Galerius" to distinguish the one with Galerius in his name. Since Herculius was never titled Caesar on coins and Galerius was, when coins of "MAXIMIANVS" use the title NOB C instead of AVG, they belong to Galerius. Galerius's coins as Augustus can be distinguished by type, size, and sometimes by the legend containing GAL VAL preceding MAXIMIANVS. However, one must be careful to note that only the extra "A" distinguishes (GAL VAL) MAXIMIANVS (Galerius) from (GAL VAL) MAXIMINVS (Maximinus II), both as Caesar and as Augustus. Here are examples: Galerius, as Augustus 25 mm. Struck late 308 - 310 at Alexandria IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG [not MAXIMINVS, compare to the next coin.] GENIO IMPERATORIS Maximinus II 23 mm. 12:00. Struck 312 as Augustus at his own mint Alexandria IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG [not MAXIMIANVS, compare to the previous coin.] GENIO AVGVSTI
RIC, Volume VI, Londinium, reduced follis No. 85/90, illustrating depiction of Genius with draped loins - often encountered on reduced (PLN) London mint folles: DN MAXIMIANO P F S AVG ................ GENIO POP ROM - PLN (exergue) Maximian Herculius (Maximianus) as "Senior (Retired)" Augustus "re-emerged" Genius with draped loins, Modius on head (No. 85) ---- draped loins, Towered head (No. 90) Summary of a (modified) message I sent to Victor Clark: Although my main interest and collection these days relates to the historical journey of Constantius, as depicted via London mint unreduced folles, from his selection as Tetrarchic Caesar of the west until his death as Augustus of the west on 25 July 306, I am going to use this coin that I have just purchased from you (pictured above with your permission) as an exemplar of the reverse depiction of Genius with draped loins -- It is (as usual with your coins) very nice and I love the clarity of the depiction of Genius. I remember this subject being part of the discussion between Hugh Cloke, Lee Toone and myself when I was a "mover and shaker" in the "Invasion coinage of Constantius " thread in the old "Ancients Info" Forum several years ago: http://www.ancients.info/forums/showthread.php?t=2604 I had to drop out of that discussion due to an abdominal ailment that necessitated a series of surgeries that almost ended my life! I had forgotten all about "draped Genius reverses" (my memory fails me frequently these days) until I recently acquired the Galerius as Augustus unreduced follis I am currently discussing on the CoinTalk Forum. I am going to have to dig out the copious notes and exemplars that I received from Hugh Cloke several years ago when we were conducting an ongoing correspondence relating to these unreduced London mint folles in order to get more "up to speed". Thanks again Victor, James
@Valentinian : I found your educational page .......... http://augustuscoins.com/ed/qf/ .......... very useful as an adjunct reference here. Nicely organized and well written.
I always have difficulty attributing these two. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them were wrong. Galerius http://www.tantaluscoins.com/browse.php?type=0&uname=pishpash&qs=galerius&sbt=0&sbc=0&go=Search Maximianus http://www.tantaluscoins.com/browse.php?type=0&uname=pishpash&qs=Maximianus&sbt=0&sbc=0&go=Search
I assume you mean all of the coins on both pages, Pishpash. The attributions are correct for all. Your Galerius coins have Caesarian titulature forms and your Maximianus coins all have Augustus titulature forms (IMP ............. AVG). Well, the inscription on the last Maximianus coin appears to end in AVG -- there is a hole through the coin at that location.
Here is a link to my reference page that describes the detailed characteristics of the folles produced in Gaul and at London under the auspicies of Constantius until his death at Eboracum in Britain on 25 July, 306: http://jp29.org/cchar.htm
A metal detecting friend from Yorkshire gave me this coin to identify last year, with a view to sell it, I'm thinking that it's a Galerius as Augustus. He was initially told that it was a London Mint RIC 8 variant of Maximianus, but to me it looks like a Galerius coin from the second tetrachy but really not sure. It's 24mm across. Any ideas? It has to be rare I think. I've not come across any Maximianus coins without IMP etc before the name.
I'm out of my league here. This thread is above my knowledge level at this point, but it's a great way to learn. Thanks to @jamesicus for starting it, and to everyone else for posting great info.
That's an interesting coin, indeed, particularly in that it has no mint marks in the exergue or field. All I can suggest is to pull out volume 6 of RIC and look up these page numbers. Here's the index. Wish I had time this morning to go on the hunt, but I've got to get to work.