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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Al Kowsky, post: 8074979, member: 97383&quot;]This morning my walk to the mail box revealed a pleasant surprise, my Secret Saturnalia Surprise arrived a day earlier than scheduled <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />! This year my gift was a handsome billon nummus of Maximinus II Daia, from <b>Victor Clark</b> <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. I didn&#039;t have an example of this coin type, so it&#039;s a welcome addition to my collection <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Thank you very much Victor.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401470[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401471[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin is an excellent strike on a well-centered flan. It has very little wear, &amp; what has been labeled as &quot;deposits&quot; is actually <b>die rust</b>, especially on the reverse. Rust spots on a die will reveal relief spots that look like deposits. The coin was struck AD 308-9, when Maximinus was Caesar. The obverse inscription reads: <b>GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C</b>. The reverse depicts Mars or Virtus in military attire holding a shield &amp; trophy. The inscription reads: <b>VIRTVTI EXERCITVS</b>, &amp; the Greek letter <b>Delta </b>in the left field, indicating Officina #4, in exergue <b>MKV</b>.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have only two other coins of Maximinus, one struck as Caesar &amp; the other as Augustus, both have the more common reverse of Genius holding a cornucopia.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401481[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1401482[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>Maximinus as Augustus, AD 310-313, London Mint. AE Nummus: 4.28 gm, 22 mm, 7 h. RIC 209b.</b></p><p>Notice how the size &amp; weight of this coin has shrunk <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. By the time this coin was struck there was no measurable silver left in the coin <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. The coin has very little circulation wear, but both dies were heavily worn.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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