The radiate aureliani (antoniniani) of Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius, and Galerius originally had surface silvering. In many cases it is long gone and the coins look like copper. But, sometimes much or all of the silvering is still there. Maximian, 286-305, silvered. 23 mm. 3.90 grams. IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P AVG radiate head right VICTORIA AVGG Diocletian standing on right presenting Victory on globe to Maximian on left XXI in exergue. No officina number in the field. RIC V.II --, but similar to 586, of Siscia, which has an officina number in the middle field. Struck "291". Sear IV 13179v. Show us some late Roman coins with surface-silvering!
Nice example, @Valentinian ! I don't have any radiates from the period with silvering, but these three folles have quite a bit of silvering left: Constantius I, Caesar, 293-305. Roman billon follis, 9.83 g, 26.3 mm, 5 h. Antioch, AD 300-301. Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; K/B-V//ANT. Refs: RIC vi, p. 620, 55a; Cohen 89; RCV 14069. Notes: The K in the left field probably refers to the retariffing of the follis at 20 denarii communes, while the V in the right field may refer to the revised valuation of the follis at 5 to the silver argentius (Harl, Kenneth W. "Marks of Value on Tetrarchic Nummi and Diocletian's Monetary Policy." Phoenix, vol. 39, no. 3, 1985, pp. 263–270, citing C.H.V. Sutherland, "Denarius and Sestertius in Diocletian's Currency Reform," JRS 51 (1961), pp. 93-97). Maximian, 1st Reign, AD 286-305. Roman billon follis, 10.96 g, 27.2 mm, 12 h. Trier, AD 298-99. Obv: IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head, right. Rev: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude but for chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; A/*//TR. Refs: RIC vi, p. 186, 277b. Notes: Typically, the reverse legend is broken GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI. Galerius as Caesar, AD 293-305. Roman silvered billon follis, 8.62 g, 27.2 mm, 6 h. Trier, AD 302-3. Obv: MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C, laureate and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing facing, head left, wearing modius, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae; S/F//IITR. Refs: RIC vi, p. 196, 508b; Cohen 65; RCV 14348. Notes: Some numismatists postulate that the S F in the fields of these coins from Trier is an abbreviation for SAECVLI FELICITAS.
I don't have any tetrarchal coins that have silvering. I do have a Tacitus and Florian with silvering, as well as a Constantine campgate type with silvering.
RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum, No. 17a, Constantius, follis: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C ....................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI Truncated bare neck bust obverse Genio Populi reverse Earliest obverse titulature 10.1 gm. Britannia invasion coinage produced in Gaul at unknown Continental mint
Gallienus, Roman Empire AE antoninianus Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate, bust right Rev: FELICI AVG, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae Mint: Rome Date: 260-268 AD Ref: RIC 187
Tacitus 275 - 276 Ӕ silvered Antoninianus, Rome, 275 21 x 23 mm - 4.07 g IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R/ LAETITIA FVND Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor. XXIB in exergue. RIC Vi Rome 89b large, grey silvering patina, XF Florianus (A.D. 275-276) Type: Silvered AE antoninianus, 23mm 4.1 grams, bulk of silvering intact. Obverse: IMP FLORIANVS AVG, Radiate portrait right, draped and cuirassed. Reverse: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right, presenting wreath of victory to Florian standing opposite and holding spear. Mintmark: S. (Cyzicus) Reference: Cohen 15; Sear 11853.
Here's a Diocletian with lots of silvering... Diocletian, Ruled 285-305 AD AE Antoninianus (silvered) Struck 285 AD, Antioch Mint Obverse: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, bust of Diocletian, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right. Reverse: IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG, Jupiter, standing right, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left hand, and Hercules, standing left, holding Victory in right hand and club and lion’s skin in left hand, A officina designation above, mintmark XXI. References: RIC V 323
two recentish acquisitions Probus A.D. 276- 282 Ӕ Antoninianus 21mm 4.2g IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. CLEMENTIA TEMP; Emperor standing right, holding scepter with eagle, receiving globe from Jupiter; Γ • in center. In ex. XXI RIC Vii Antioch 920 Though attributed to Antioch in RIC, this coin has more recently been attributed, mainly based on style, to an unknown mint, struck A.D. 280- 281, when the governor of Syria, Saturninus, revolted against Probus. See the article by Sylviane Estiot https://www.academia.edu/29744478/L_Empereur_et_l_usurpateur_un_4e_atelier_oriental_sous_Probus Diocletian A.D. 303 27x29mm 9.3g IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right. SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands. In ex. A RIC VI Carthage 31a This coin celebrates the defeat of the Quinquegentiani (People of the Five Tribes), who were a confederation of Berbers in North Africa. They were under Roman rule, but rebelled in A.D. 289 and were successful for a few years until Maximianus Herculius launched a series of devastating attacks starting in A.D. 297 and finishing in A.D. 298, after which, the Quinquegentiani were never heard of again.
Here is an uncleaned Maximianus Herculius antoninianus from a large hoard, but silvering is quite visible.
My most highly silvered, arranged chronologically: Gallienus: Aurelian: Probus: Carinus as Caesar: Maximianus: Constantius I: This Constantine still has some silver left:
Recently purchased and anxiously awaiting this antoninianus of Severina, my first antoninianus ever actually. Including the sellers pic until it arrives and I can photograph it myself! Severina; Rome, Antoninianus, 3.84g. RIC-3, Göbl-132s3 (66 spec.), Paris-175. Obv: SEVERINA AVG Bust draped r. on crescent, wearing stephane. Rx: CONCO - RDIA AVGG Aurelian and Severina clasping hands, ΓXXIR in exergue (officina 3). From the Philip Ashton Collection, acquired from Alex Malloy, March 2001.Fully silvered. Mint State