Attribution problems with folles of Maximianus and Galerius

I thought it best to make this a separate thread from that of the (superb) Diocletian thread of Coin Talk member Curtisimo.

MAXIMIAN HERCULIUS (MAXIMIANUS) and GALERIUS MAXIMIAN (GALERIUS) folles titulature and attribution

Following are the Imperial name forms used in the section headers of THE ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE (RIC), Volume VI, followed by the name forms most frequently used by coin collectors and dealers:

MAXIMIAN HERCULIUS ...... Maximianus

GALERIUS MAXIMIAN ......... Galerius

Caution should be exercised when attributing folles of Maximian Herculius (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) & Galerius Maximian (Caius Galerius Valerius Maximianus) due to the similarity of their titulature. Maximian Herculius was always only Augustus during this time period whereas Galerius Maximian was first Caesar and then Augustus. Therefor coins bearing the titulature MAXIMIANVS plus NOB C, NOBIL CAES, NOB CAES, NOBIL C, etc., can only be those of Galerius Maximian. There is a special problem with Galerius as Augustus coins: The titulature is mostly exactly the same as that of Maximian Herculius and frequently the only way to differentiate between the two is by the portraiture on the coin obverse.

MAXIMIAN HERCULIUS (MAXIMIANUS) titulature

SELECTED EXAMPLE COINS:

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 17, Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West:


IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG ............................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 25, Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West:


IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG .................................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

GALERIUS MAXIMIAN (GALERIUS) as CAESAR titulature

SELECTED EXAMPLE COINS:

Intermediate series coin (Bastien), not in RIC, Galerius Maximian, Caesar of the East:


C VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB C ................................ GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 21, Galerius Maximian, Caesar of the East:


MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES .................................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 33, Galerius Maximian, Caesar of the East:


MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C ..................................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

GALERIUS MAXIMIAN (GALERIUS) as AUGUSTUS titulature

SELECTED EXAMPLE COIN:

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 42, Galerius Maximian, Augustus of the East:


IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG ...................................... GENIO POPV LI ROMANI

Identical titulature to the primary one of Maximian Herculius

 

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Fascinating thread @jamesicus. It seems one would have to be pretty well versed in the portrait style of each individual mint to make a determination between the two as Augusti. That would of course be rather difficult considering the move away from realistic portraits was well and complete.

Here is a rare quarter follis of Maximianus I acquired I this year as an addition to the thread. Note the absence of a designation for Caesar.

Maximianus (AD 286-305)
AE Quarter Follis, Siscia mint, struck AD 305-6
Dia.: 20 mm
Wt.: 2.0 g
Obv.: MAXIMIANVS AVG
Rev.: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
Ref.: RIC 169b, rare R2

 

Excellent @jamesicus

 

Maximian has an upturned nose.

 

One clue that can help is that Galerius as Augustus folles with confusing legends tend to be smaller than Maximianus'. While not foolproof, it is a clue to start you looking in the right place.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/max.html

 

Galerius!



Erin