A scarce reverse type for Max. Herc. from Lugdunum

This is a recent purchase that I thought worthy of sharing.

The primary deity of Maximianus Herculius was Hercules and the primary deity of Diocletian was Jupiter. This is generally reflected in the coinage though this is not a hard and fast rule so you do get coins of Maximianus Herculius with Jupiter reverses,

There are some Jupiter reverse types that are common for Diocletian that do occur for Maximianus Herculius such as those illustrated below.





There is another Jupiter reverse type that is known to exist for Diocletian "Jupiter standing right holding thunderbolt and spear,eagle at feet". This reverse type is included in Bastien under Diocletian and would appear quite scarce even for Diocletian. Bastien 300 (1 example cited), 301 (1 example cited) and 302 (3 example cited).

This reverse type seems quite scarce for Maximianus Herculius with one example, the one cited in Bastien Supplement 2 having come on the market back in 2006. Mine would appear to be only the second known example coming from the same die pair.

Maximianus Herculius Antoninianus

Obv:– IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right (seen from front)
Rev:– IOVI AVGG, Jupiter standing right holding thunderbolt and spear,eagle at feet.
Minted in Lugdunum (//A). Emission 7. Officina 1. Spring A.D. 290 – A.D. 291
Reference(s) – Cohen -. Bastien - (0). Bastien supplement 1 -. Bastien supplement 2/302 (alpha)a, pl. XVIII (1 example cited). RIC V Pt. 2 Lugdunum - Bust Type C. This reverse type not noted in RIC or Bastien for Maximianus Herculius.




This is probably something that most people other then a specialist for a mint would care about but spotting this one certainly made my day.

Martin

 

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Love that reverse. Now I will have to keep a look out for one.

 

Those are nice coins, I like them all.

 

The point is that Jupiter was the patron of Diocletian and Hercules of Maximianus so coins of theirs with their own cod or with both gods are expected. We see Jupiter for Maximianus. Who has a Hercules on Diocletian?

Common Hercules for Maximianus

Another Jupiter for Maximianus


Both on Diocletian (common)


Both on Maximianus (common)

I lack a Diocletian with Hercules alone.