Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[ambr0zie]

Another emperor who is alone in my collection. But he looks pretty confident here

Diocletian AD 284-305. Ticinum
Follis Æ
26 mm, 9,57 g
AD 300 - AD 303
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, head of Diocletian, laureate, right / SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTER, Moneta, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand
MintMark: -/-//PT•; OfficinaMark: T
RIC VI Ticinum 45a
 

Edited April 4, 2023 by ambr0zie

[Prieure de Sion]

I only have this "strange" but still interesting, I think, portrait of Diocletian. It is thus also the only coin with me.

 

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus
Argenteus of the Roman Imperial Period 295 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 18mm; Weight: 3.36g; Mint: Nicomedia, Bithynia; Reference: RIC VI Nicomedia 22a

Obverse: Head of Diocletian, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: DIOCLETIANVS AVG for Diocletianus Augustus; Reverse: Four-turreted gateway, open, doors thrown back; surmounting each turret, facing eagle. The Inscription reads: VICTORIAE SARMATICAE SMNΓ for Victoriae Sarmaticae (Victories over the Sarmatians, Nicomedia 3rd officina).

 

 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Now on to the time of Maximianus Herculis, and I have a trifecta to share...

Type: Potin Tetradrachm of Alexandria

20mm, 8.0 grams

Obverse: AK M OVA MAEIMIANOC CEB Laureate, draped bust right

Reverse: Eagle standing left, head right with wreath in its beak; star in left field, L-Delta Date: Year 4 = A.D. 289-290

Reference: Milne 4921, Emmet 4108

EGYPT. Alexandria. Maximianus, first reign, 286-305.

Tetradrachm (Potin, 19 mm, 7.26 g, 12 h), RY 8 = 292/3.

Obv. ΜΑΞΙΜΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximianus to right.

Rev. Є/ΤΟΥC / H within laurel wreath.

Dattari (Savio) 5999. Emmett 4161.8. K&G 120.67.

Extremely rare. Light deposits, otherwise, very fine. From the Rhakotis Collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s (with collector’s ticket). 

And a follis, courtesy of the Jamesicus (James Pickering collection)

[Qcumbor]

I have several Maximianus' coins. I will choose that Lugdunum's example to represent them :

Maximianus follis - Atelier de Lyon, 304-305 CE

MAXIMIANVS AVG. Buste lauré et cuirassé de Maximien Hercule à droite, avec pan de paludamentum, vu de trois quarts en avant (B*01).

GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI/ (AUTEL)|*// PLG. Génie debout à gauche, coiffé du modius, le manteau sur l'épaule gauche, tenant une patère de la main droite et une corne d'abondance de la main gauche.

8,15 gr - 27,5 mm

Ref : RIC # 175b, Cohen # 198

 

Q

[John Conduitt]

I have 5 of Maximian, each very different but strangely recognisable. He was apparently a bit of a yo-yo dieter in 20 odd years as Augustus. The nose is always the same, though.

Maximian (under Carausius) Antoninianus, 287-293

Londinium. Bronze, 22mm, 4.29g. Radiate and cuirassed bust right; IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG. Pax standing left, holding olive branch and long sceptre; PAX AVGGG; S-P; MLXXI in exergue (RIC V, 34). The three Gs are for Carausius, Diocletian and Maximian, in the hope that they might reign together.

Maximian I Follis, 300

Londinium (or northern France). Bronze, 26mm, 9.36g. Laureate and cuirassed bust right; IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; no mintmark (RIC VI, 6b).

Maximian I Follis, 304-305

Ticinum, 2nd officina. Bronze, 26mm, 9.28g. Head right, laureate. Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae; to right, star (RIC VI, 47b).

Maximian I First Abdication Follis, 305-306

London. Bronze, 29mm, 9.82g. Laureate bust of Maximian senior right, wearing Imperial mantle and holding olive branch and mappa; DN MAXIMIANO FELISSIMO SEN AVG. Providentia standing right extending hand, facing Quies, standing left holding olive branch and resting on sceptre; PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG (RIC VI, 77b).

Maximian I Second Reign Follis, 307

London. Bronze, 25mm, 7.28g. Laureate and cuirassed bust right; DN MAXIMIANO PFS AVG. Genius standing left, turret on head, holding patera and cornucopia; GENIO POP ROM; PLN in exergue (RIC VI, 90).

I might get away with 5 of the same emperor if I say 4 of them are under different authorities - Carausius, Maximian first reign, Constantius, and Maximian second reign...

Edited April 4, 2023 by John Conduitt

[DonnaML]

I have only one coin of Maximian's, plus one Divus issue:

Maximian (a/k/a Maximianus Herculius), silvered AE Follis, 297-98 AD, Heraclea Mint (1st Officina). Obv. Laureate head right, IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG / Rev. Genius standing left holding cornucopiae in left hand and pouring libation from patera in right hand, GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; HTA in exergue. RIC V-2 Heraclea 19b, Sear RCV IV 13265. 28 mm., 10.26 g.

Divus Maximian (a/k/a Maximianus Herculius) (issued under Constantine I), AE Half Follis, 317-318 AD, Rome Mint (1st Officina). Obv. Laureate, veiled head of Maximian right, DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP / Rev. Lion advancing right, MEMORIAE AETERNAE; in exergue, R P [Rome, 1st Officina]. RIC VII Rome 123 (p. 311), Sear RCV IV 16403, Cohen (Maximian) 400. 14x15 mm., 1.8 g.

[CPK]

My only Maximian portrait, purchased also for the slightly-less-common reverse type. I wanted a HERCVLI CONSERVAT for Maximian to match my IOVI CONSERVAT of Diocletian. Both radiate, both from Ticinum.

[Jims,Coins]

AE (post reform radiate fraction) (20 mm, 3.53 g., 6h) minted at Ticinum during MAXIMIANUS, first reign, in 299 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.M.A.MAXIMIANVSP.F.AVG. radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right. Rev. VOT/XX, in two lines within wreath. Officina below legend. RCS #3640. RICVI #386 var. Dark green-brown patina. Good VF.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at S*=Rome during the reign of MAXIMIANUS between 299 - 300 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.MAXIMIANVS.P.F.AVG.: Rev. GENIO.POPV-LI. ROMANI.: Genius standing l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera, l. cornucopia. RCS #3631. RIC VI #96b pg. 361.

Silver washed Bronze coin (AE Antoninianus) minted at Antioch during the reign of MAXIMIANUS in 285 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.M.AVR.VAL.MAXIMIANVS.P.F.AVG.: rad., dr. & cuir. bust r. Rev. IOVI.CONSERVATO-RI. AVGG.: Emperor standing r., holding sceptre and receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter stg. l., holding sceptre. RIC V pII #623 pg.294.

[Roman Collector]

Maximian:


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.

[Shea19]

Siscia (big head-style portrait)

Maximianus, first reign, 299 A.D., Ae Follis (29 mm, 10.30 g), Siscia, circa 299. IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Laureate head of Maximianus to right./ Rev.GENIO POPVLI ROMANI / B / SIS The Genius of the Roman people, nude but for chlamys, standing front, head to left, wearing kalathos and holding patera in his right hand and cornucopiae in his left. RIC 108b

 

Lugdunum mint:

Edited April 5, 2023 by Shea19

[Severus Alexander]

My favourite Max portrait is a new one for me, this London nummus:

That is a look of determination, no? 😄 

I have some others that I like too.  For antoniniani, I have both the Ticinum issue that @CPK shows as well as the Lugdunum that @Shea19 posted:

For folles, I like this Carthage (also for its particularly disgusting looking "fruits" on the reverse!):

This scarcer 2nd reign portrait from Lugdunum (c. 308) is kind of neat, despite the coin's problems... and the extraordinarily large ear!

Finally, here's a silly one from Rome.  He's thinking "What?!? You've got to be *#&%ing kidding me!!" 😆

[mc9]

Here 4 favorite portraits from 4  different fractions :

MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES : Laureate head right

SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR / ST• : Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopia

Follis. Ticinum, A.D.286-305, RIC 46b

MAXIMIA - NVS AVG : laureate head right

VICTORIAE SARMATICAE : The four tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets

Denarius, Nicomedia, First reign, 3rd officina. Struck AD 295, RIC VI 19b

IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG : Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

IOVI CONS - ERVAT / TXXIT : Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre

Antoninianus, Siscia, A.D.286-305, RIC 558

MAXIMIANVS AVG : laureate head right

GENIO POP - VLI ROMANI / SIS : Genius standing right holding patera and cornucopiae

1/4 Follis,  Siscia, A.D.305-306, RIC 169b

 

[ambr0zie]

... and again an emperor with only 1 example in my collection.
An interesting coin with a beautiful toning

Maximianus (286-305), Egypt, Alexandria. Billon Tetradrachm. 20 mm, 7,20 g
Obv: A K MA OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB; laureate draped and cuirassed bust right / Rev: Homonoia (Concordia) standing left, raising right hand and holding double cornucopiae 
L - Γ (= yr. 3 = A.D. 287/8). 
Milne 4855v; Curtis 2091; Emmett 4141.
 

[mc9]

4 provicial coins from Maximianus, the first three, the same type, but obverse different busts. The third one is my favorite portrait.

A K M OVA MAZIMIANOC CEB : laureate head right

Elpis facing left, holding a flower and lifting her skirt L/B/

A K M OVA MAZIMIANOC CEB : laureate bust right

Elpis facing left, holding a flower and lifting her skirt L/ B

A K M OVA MAZIMIANOC CEB : laureate and cuirassed bust right

Elpis facing left, holding a flower and lifting her skirt L/ r

A K M IV MAXIMIANOC CEB :laureate and draped bust right

Alexandria standing facing, head left, holding bust of Serapis with left hand and scepter with right hand L/A

 

[Shea19]

6 hours ago, Severus Alexander said:

My favourite Max portrait is a new one for me, this London nummus:

This one is a stunner, love that portrait…great pickup!

[Ursus]

Radiate:

Maximian, Roman Empire, AE radiate, 295–298 AD, Heraclea mint. Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Maximian r. Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM; Jupiter standing l. and holding sceptre presents Victory to emperor standing r.; between them, HΓ. 21mm, 2.79g. RIC VI Heraclea 14 or 22.

 

Large "follis:"

Maximian, Roman Empire, AE1 (“follis”), 296–297 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP MAXIMIANVS P AVG; bust of Maximianus, laureate, r. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; Genius standing l., holding patera and cornucopia, modius on head; in fields, A–Γ; in exergue, TR. 25mm, 9.30g. Ref: RIC VI Trier 181b.

 

Alexandrian tetradrachm:

Roman Provinces: Egypt, Alexandria, under Maximian, AE tetradrachm, 288–289 AD. Obv: A K M A OYA MAΞIMIANOC CEB; bust of Maximian, laureate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: Alexandria standing l., holding bust of Serapis and long sceptre; date: L Δ. 18mm, 7.18g. Ref: Emmett 4093.

 

Later "follis" minted after Maximianus' short-lived comeback in 307 AD:

Maximian (struck under Maxentius), Roman Empire, AE1 ("follis"), 307–308 AD, Ticinum mint. Obv: IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, head of Maximian, laureate, r. Rev: CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple, holding globe and sceptre; in exergue, TT. 27mm, 5.83g. Ref: RIC VI Ticinum 92.

[wittwolff]

I would call him Diocletians fist!

My favorite:

One made after Diocletians monetary reform:

One from his inglorious second reign:

 

[Octavius]

 I don't have much to offer in this time period , but I'm learning a lot about it by enjoying all your beautiful and interesting coins!

[Julius Germanicus]

The youngest coin in my collection is this example of the oldest Germanic coinage. This particular design evolved directly from an Aureus of Maximian that made it into the hands of the Eastern Goths, and features his portrait despite the barbarised legends:

IIII-IT — IIIIII - laureate and cuirassed bust of Maximian left /
II — IISIII (the S reversed) - helmeted Roma seated left on throne with X beneath seat, holding Victory on extended right hand and resting on sceptre held in left

Aureus (gold plated over base metal core), irregular mint in western Ukraine, Chernyakhov culture, ca. 300-310 aD 19,83 mm / 2,56 gr., pierced in antiquity

Oleg Anohin "Counterfeiting among barbarian tribes in the territory of modern Ukraine and Moldova. Catalog of barbaric imitations" (2015), Nr.87 (this coin illustrated). Found near Ternopil, Ukraine

 

[Qcumbor]

Sorry to not stick to showing just one, but I can't resist to posting this argenteus too

Maximianus, first reign, 286-305. Argenteus - Serdica, circa 303-305 CE
MAXIMIA-NVS AVG Laureate head of Maximianus to right. 
VIRTVS MILITVM / •SM•SDA• Campgate with three turrets and no doors.
19 mm - 3.43 g -12 h
Ref : Gautier 5. RIC 1b var. (unrecorded officina). RSC 627a. A very rare variety. Beautifully toned. Extremely fine.
Ex Leu Auction 12 # 1501 (15/05/2022), From the collection of Dipl.-Ing. Adrian Lang and from the collection of a maître cuisinier, Leu 10, 24 October 2021, 2363.

Q

[Jims,Coins]

Bronze coin (AE Antoninianus) minted at Antioch during the reign of MAXIMIANUS in 286 - 299 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.M.A.MAXIMIANVS.AVG.: rad., dr. & cuir. bust r. Rev. CONCORDIA.MILITVM.: Emperor standing r., receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter stg. l. SEAR #3611. RIC VI #60b. DVM #21.

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

We've come to the end of one emperor, Maximianus, time for another...even if he was a usurper 😉

ROMANO-BRITISH EMPIRE

Carausius,  286-293 C.E.

AE antoninianus, 23mm 3.6 grams Uncertain mint

Obverse: IMP CARAVSIVS AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed but right

Reverse: PAX AVG; Pax standing left holding branch and scepter

Reference: RIC Vb p. 535-538 for all Pax varieties of Carausius 

[DonnaML]

I have nothing from Carausius, but here's my one Allectus, which I purchased at a Noonans auction last month but decided to wait to post until Allectus's turn came up in this thread.

Allectus, Billon “Quinarius” [1/2 Antoninianus or 1/2 Aurelianus; see fn.], 293-295/96 AD, London Mint. Obv. Radiate and cuirassed bust right, IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG / Rev. Galley left with mast and rigging (no rowers), waves below, VIRTVS AVG above; in exergue, mintmark Q L [L = London Mint]. 19 mm., 3.16 g. RIC V-2 55 (p. 563) [erroneously identified by dealer as RIC 128, which has Q C mintmark for Camulodunum mint]; Sear RCV IV 13870; Burnett 111 [this variety] (App. 2, p. 34) [Andrew Burnett, “The Coinage of Allectus: Chronology and Interpretation,” British Numismatic Journal Vol. 54 (1984) pp. 21-40, available at https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital BNJ/pdfs/1984_BNJ_54_5.pdf]. Purchased from Noonans (Noonans Mayfair Ltd., London, UK), Auction 269, 8 March 2023, Lot 736.*

*See Sear RCV IV 13870 at p. 231: "The equivalent of the bronze ‘post-reform radiate’ of Diocletian’s new monetary system, these half antoniniani . . . are often referred to as ‘quinarii’ because of the ‘Q’ which precedes the mint letter in the exergue. However, the true meaning must surely have been a ‘half’ of the current standard billon denomination, i.e. the antoninianus. The basic reverse type of this denomination is always a galley, representing the naval power upon which the usurper’s regime depended, though the details of the design vary considerably. At London the accompanying legend is always VIRTVS AVG, but at Colchester [Camulodunum] LAETITIA AVG also occurs.” This type, Sear RCV IV 13870 from London, encompasses a number of variations, and can be found with the galley right or left, “usually with mast and rigging and with varying numbers of rowers, sometimes with bird on mast, sometimes with oars uplifted on one side.” Id.

RIC V-2 55 is similarly broad in scope. See also Burnett, op. cit., at p. 27: “London has only one legend, VIRTVS AVG, accompanied by the same sort of galley as appears on the C mint VIRTVS AVG coins, which nearly always is also sailing left. There are, however, frequent minor variations at London. Some galleys sail right, some have no mast or rigging, or sometimes the mast is replaced with a figure of Victory or a reclining figure holding (apparently) a baton and a branch. London VIRTVS AVG coins can also be distinguished from their C mint counterparts by the presence of waves below the galley.” As stated above, Burnett 111 (see Appendix 2 at p. 34) is this coin’s specific variation, with the galley left, mast and rigging present, and no rowers.   

Burnett’s article presents a somewhat different view than Sear’s regarding the denomination of these quinarius “galley” types, using additional terminology to distinguish “antoniniani” from “aureliani.” See p. 27 of the article (footnotes omitted), suggesting that in fact the quinarii were equal to the antoninianius in value, representing one-half of an aurelianus, rather than half an antoninianus  -- keeping in mind that “antoninianus” is an invented modern term used to refer to certain coins, and was not actually used in the Roman world; other sources view antoninianii and aurelianii as having the same value:

“The coins, although they have a radiate bust, have a smaller diameter and a lighter weight than the antoniniani (3g as opposed to 4 ½ g). This weight is the same as that used
by Diocletian for his post-reform antoniniani, minted in Italy and further east after 294, but I hesitate to see a direct connection because of the different alloys of the two coins. Diocletian's post-reform radiates contained no silver, whereas the 'quinarii' of Allectus had 1-2 per cent silver, not very much indeed, but apparently as much as his 'antoniniani' ever contained. The weight relationship of 2/3 to 1 does, however, suggest that the
'quinarii', despite the radiate portrait, were intended to be (in some sense) half antoniniani, since it was normal in the third century for half pieces to weigh two thirds of their whole. The fact that they were a smaller denomination led to a different pattern of hoarding from that of the antoniniani. Apart from the quinarii two main sorts of coin are found in hoards of the late third century, both of which we call 'antoniniani' today.  Preferable, however, as labels of convenience, are the terms 'antoniniani', referring only to the mass of poor quality coinage produced by Gallienus, Claudius II and the Gallic emperors, and 'aureliani', referring to the larger coins containing five per cent silver minted by Aurelian and his successors. Most of the coins of Carausius and Allectus were 'aureliani', and to some extent this explains their behaviour in contemporary hoards.
These hoards (to oversimplify) tend to contain either 'aureliani' or 'antoniniani', but rarely both; the 'quinarii' behave in this context as 'antoniniani' rather than 'aureliani'. . . .This interpretation of hoards has several implications. First, it apparently suggests that 'quinarii' were regarded as of equivalent value to 'antoniniani' (as opposed to 'aureliani'), in both cases half an 'aurelianus'.”

If anyone has any further information on the half-antoninianus vs. half-aurelianus issue, I'd love to hear it.
 

[mc9]

My only Carausius :

IMP C CARAVSIVS P F AVG : radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

PAX AVG S/P/ : Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical sceptre

Antoninianus, Camulodunum,  A.D. 287-293, RIC Vb 475

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I wonder if anyone has the jugate type with the busts of Carausius, Diocletian, and Maximian? If so they are quite rare and worth a pretty penny. [Let's hope so]