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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bing, post: 2013901, member: 44132&quot;]While the OP coin is in great shape, these, in fact, are not that scarce and even I own a few of the various types.&nbsp; The history of this type is as follows:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>PAGAN COINAGE OF THE GREAT PERSECUTION</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Though formerly attributed to the period of Julian II, these pieces were struck c. 305-313 as part of The Great Persecution of Christians in the east by Diocletian, Galerius and Maximinus II Daia. Though the persecution of Christians had occurred under many previous regimes since the 1st Century, it was pursued assiduously by the Tetrarchs. Indeed, it was only halted (it would seem) when they determined that it was working to the advantage of Constantine the Great, who embraced the religion as a result. Associated with the persecution is a series of &#039;autonomous&#039; coins struck at the cities of Antioch, Nicomedia and Alexandria. The bulk of these coins were probably struck c. 310-312 under Galerius or Maximinus Daia (though the issues of Nicomedia can perhaps be attributed to Galeria Valeria, the second wife of Galerius). The issues of Alexandria occur in two denominations and celebrate Serapis and Nilus. With the voluminous issues of Antioch we find a variety of mint marks, officinae and control marks, which suggest the output was large and complex. Depicted on the issues of Antioch are some of the city&#039;s most famous statues: the Tyche erected by Eutychides (a pupil of Lysippus), the Apollo by Bryaxis of Athens, and possibly the Zeus Nikephoros of the Temple of Apollo at Daphne which Antiochus IV commissioned for his great festival of 167 B.C.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]363193[/ATTACH] </p><p>MAXIMINUS II DAIA Quarter-Nummus&nbsp; </p><p>OBVERSE: IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter seated left holding globe &amp; sceptre</p><p>REVERSE: VICTORIA AVGG, Victory advancing left with wreath &amp; palm, officina letter to right, ANT in ex. </p><p>Struck at Antioch, 310-313 AD</p><p>1.2g, 15mm&nbsp; </p><p>Vagi 2955</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]363194[/ATTACH] </p><p>MAXIMINUS II DAIA Quarter-Nummus&nbsp; </p><p>OBVERSE: GENIO ANTIOCHENI, Tyche of Antioch seated facing on rocks, turreted and veiled, stalks of grain in right, river-god Orontes swimming below</p><p>REVERSE: APOLLONI SANCTO, Apollo standing left, patera in right, lyre in left. A in right field, mintmark SMA</p><p>Struck at Antioch, 312 AD</p><p>1.2g, 13mm </p><p>Van Heesch 3, A[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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