Hi. I'm a bit new to the coin collecting world but happened to have saved hundreds of coins given to me over the years by friends and family. This one in particular, I have been unable to identify in my world coin books. Could anyone possibly let me know what it is, or at least a starting block? Thanks in advance, Kevin
Hello Kevin, and welcome to the forum. -comment edited- you image didn't load for me until after I posted a response.
Howdy Kevin - Welcome to the Forum !! We have a few members around here who will be able to help you much more than I can. But until one of them drops by and responds - this will make a very good starting block - Click Here
image loading Hmm, sorry about that. I am hosting them off of my own server -- hopefully it is not running too laggy at the moment as I'd really like to know what this coin is. Thanks for letting me know about the slow loading time. -kevin
Welcome Klo, you have a bronze follis of Maximianus who was emperor on and off from 286-308 AD. Maximianus Æ Follis. 301 AD. IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right / SACRA MONET AVG G ET CAESS NOSTR, aequitas standing, holding scales & cornucopia. If you would like to see a few examples of this coin,scroll down this page until you come to Aquileia RIC#31b on the left. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/maximianus/t.html
appreciation Wow -- thanks so much for having identified that. ...and so quickly I might add. I just made the first post some 30 minutes ago. Anyway -- I also appreciate having been pointed to that database of coins. It seems to be an authoritative voice to this sort of thing. Also - it seems that the coin I am in possession isn't worth much (as I read the text anyways). Is that accurate? -Kevin
The Emperor's Money Thanks for the link, GD (you da man!). The coin is close to this one: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/maximianus/_aquileia_RIC_031b.jpg "Maximianus AE Follis. 301 AD. IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right / SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta holding scales and cornucopia, V to right, AQP in ex." SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR. Loosely: Holy Money of Augustus and Our Caesar. (You have to understand that Moneta or Money was a personification, like Miss Liberty, rather than an abstraction as we think of money.) I would look in Small's Classical Dictionary from 1877, but since this is the online world, let me offer these links to the history of MAXIMIANUS. The Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10074c.htm The secular version http://www.roman-emperors.org/maxherc.htm The coins are nominally common, selling for $15 to $150 depending on the condition and the rarity of the specific type.
WoW Mike! We must have been typing at the same time! I'm just glad we came to the same conclusion,I've had egg on my face a time or two with mis-identifications but I'm still learning.. Wildwinds is one of my bibles too.
appreciation Thanks so much for everyone's help figuring out what this coin is, as well as pointing me in the right direction of some online resources. I am sure that I'll have a few other coins in the future that I need some help identifying, but I am working diligently to get all of my coins scanned in and entered into my online coin database. I'll be sure to share the link once I have the software finished and as I like it. Thanks again, Kevin
