I almost never see anyone post up any of the large Follis coins. I had only seen pictures of them in books when I first started in ancients but never realized how large they really were until I found one metal detecting when I lived in Spain. Ever since then I have always liked them and find them kind of like cartoon art in a way on some of the bust types. Anyway here are a few of mine please post yours up for everyone to see. Roman Imperial Galerius as Caesar under Diocletian during the Tetrarchy Era Silvered AE Follis (weight: 10.40g, max diameter: 28mm, axis: 6h) Heraclea mint, 5th officina, circa 296-297 AD Obverse: GAL VAL MAXMIMIANVS NOB CAES, Head of Galerius facing right, wearing laurel wreath Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, nude except for chlamys on left shoulder (falls low); holding cornucopia in left hand and pouring libation from patera in right; HTepsilon in exergue Reference: RIC VI Heraclea 18b Maximianus 286-305 Ae Follis 30mm 8.9 grams Rome mint Obv: IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG , Luarate head right Rev: SACRA MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS N N , Moneta standing left holding scales and cornucopiae. Mintmark S club Ric 100b Ex Sallent collection, JAZ Numismatics auction 163 Maximianus 297-298 AD. Obv:IMP CMA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, laureate head right (large head type) Rev: GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder (falls low), holding patera from which liquid flows and cornucopiae. AE Follis. Heraclea. Mintmark HTB. 9.8 grams RIC VI Heraclea 19b. Diocletian 284-305 AD Obv: IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI Genius HTΓ Silvered Follis Hereclea 12.01 grams 27mm RIC VI 17a Maximianus 286-310 AD Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI Genius HTB Silvered Follis Heraclea 9.8 GRAMS 29mm RIC VI 19b Maximianus 286-310 AD Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG Rev: GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI Genius HTB Silvered Follis Hereclea 10.95 grams 29mm RIC VI 19b Constnatius I 293-306 AD Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI Genius HTB Silvered Follis Hereclea 9.59 grams 28mm RIC VI 20a Constnatius I 293-306 AD Obv: IMP FL VAL CONSTANTIVS PF AUG Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI Genius HTB Silvered Follis Hereclea 11.54 grams 28mm RIC VI 24a
Ah, yes. My favorite collecting theme. Maximian AE Follis 295 A.D., Treveri Mint, 2nd Officina 10.55g, 27.0mm, 12H Obverse: IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG, Laureate head of Maximianus to right Reverse: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, The Genius of the Roman people, nude but for chlamys Exergue: B/-//TR Provenance: Ex. Leu Numismatik Web Auction 10, Lot 1515, Ex. Tetrarchy Collection Reference: RIC VI Treveri 154b Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 296 - 297 A.D., Heraclea Mint, 1st Officina 8.39g, 29.0mm, 12H Obverse: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: -/-//HTA Provenance: Ex. Budges-Beak eBay 2019 Reference: RIC VI Heraclea 18a Maximian AE Follis 296 - 303 A.D., London Mint, null Officina 9.72g, 28.0mm, 6H Obverse: IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust right Reverse: GENIO POPV–LI ROMANI, Genius standing, facing left, head surmounted by a modius, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left arm Exergue: -/-//- Provenance: Ex. Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 1, Lot 132, Ex. James Pickering Romano-Britannic Collection, Ex. York Coins Reference: RIC VI Londinium 6b, Cloke & Toone 2.01.007
Yes, they are impressive coins. Images of the coins often have nothing in them to realize the scale. I see them as coins with the diameter of a sestertius and the weight of an as. Here are some of my larger folles with a sestertius of Severus Alexander, diameter of 29 mm and weight of 19 grams, and a US one cent piece for scale. Top center follis of constantius, at 8.8 grams, FIDEWS MILITUM rev, of Galerius at 11.6 grams, SACRA MONET, rev. at bottom left of Diocletian at 8.4 grams, GENIO POPULI, rev. and Maximinus II at 5.5 grams, IOVI CONSERVATORI rev. and probably double struck.
They are wonderful coins in hand.. and reasonably priced in most cases - which is an added bonus. All of these are 29mm.. Father and Son: Diocletian: Galerius Galerius/Carthage
This is one of my favorite areas of numismatics. Years ago I sold most of my Folles to focus on Roman Republican coins, but I came back a couple of years ago and now I'm building a new collection of these coins. They have history, a style of their own, and affordability even in high grade. RIC VI is also eminently readable and easy to reference. Here are a few: The ubiquitous Genio Populi Romani Historical - Maximinus as Filius Augustus Style and Composition - Hercules Reverse type
I recently took some photos of my coins from the period: Galerius Augustus, 305-11 AD. AE2, Antioch 308 AD Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG: Head of Galerius, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO IMP-ERATORIS: Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand Reference: RIC VI Antioch 82 Maxentius AVG, 306-12 AD. Billon follis, Aqueila 307 AD Obverse: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG. Head of Maxentius, laureate, right Reverse: CONSERV - VRB SVAE. Roma, draped, seated left on shield, in tetrastyle temple, giving globe to Maxentius with right hand and holding sceptre in left hand; Maxentius, draped, cuirassed, standing right; between them, seated captive; as acroteria, Victory; in pediment, wolf and twins. Reference: RIC 113 Severus II AVG 306-307AD AE Follis Cyzicus 307AD RCV 14674
I like the Carthage folles-- I think I currently have about 2 dozen. This one has almost the perfect amount of corrosion...if there is such a thing. It also has an I for Jove in the reverse field, so a a pertinent quote from Lactantius-- "Where now are the surnames of the Jovii and the Herculii, once so glorious and renowned among the nations; surnames insolently assumed at first by Diocles and Maximian, and afterwards transferred to their successors?" Lactantius LII Diocletian A.D. 297- 298 28x30mm 8.3gm IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right. FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull, in left field I in ex. PKP RIC VI Carthage 23a Victory over Quinquegentiani http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/Carthage/
Way to be, @bcuda! Your Galerius reverse is bonkers but so is the portrait. Some doozies in this thread Here's a couple:
SEVERUS II Quarter Follis OBVERSE: SEVERVS NOB C, laureate head right REVERSE: GGENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, with chlamys over l. shoulder, patera & cornucopiae; SIS in ex. Struck at Siscia 305-6 AD 2.3g, 20mm RIC VI Siscia 171a
I have only four folles of 28 mm. or more -- from Diocletian (an abdication follis), Maximian, Constantius I Chlorus, and Galerius. The Galerius is Ex. Giovanni Dattari Collection, and thus has my oldest provenance. My Galeria Valeria is only 26 mm., and doesn't quite qualify, but I'll post her anyway.
Coin Talk seems to go in cycles. There have been periods where we see nothing but AE1 folles; then we see nothing but Republicans. We have visited many specialties and I assume most will return in time for those who stick around. I'm sure I have shown these before but I have so few coins from last year that that is no surprise. Diocletian Trier left Diocletian Alexandria with XXI Severus II Cyzicus Maximinus II Rome
sitting on my desk right now awaiting my phographic renderings. The dealers pic is little grey --bleh. I hope to lighten it with some contrast and maybe bring up some hue, I will try when I am not drinking! Maximinus II, as Caesar, 305-309. Follis (Bronze, 26 mm, 6.44 g, 12 h), Antiochia, circa 309. MAXIMINVS NOB CAES Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Maximinus II to left, holding spear over his right shoulder and shield decorated with two horsmen riding to left, four enemies below them; on cuirass, gorgoneion; on helmet, Sol standing facing in quadriga, raising his right hand in salute and holding globe in his left, around, stars and crescent, crest ending in griffin. Rev. VIRTVS EXERCITVS / B / ANT Virtus standing front, head to left, resting her right hand on decorated shield and holding spear in her left; in field to left, lighted altar. RIC 125
I was going to say that face doesn't seem right for this guy BUT looking at my 'normal' one, I'd say this was a very stylized period for Antioch. Scroll back to Svessien's coin and you will see what I mean.