Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Time to move on to the field of April 10th.

First example I will show is this one.

This example is from the time when Severus was Caesar in the tetrarchy, Siscia mint. Quarter Follis. For some reason the celators at Siscia liked to crank out these coins.

Obverse: SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate head right

Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius Standing left, modius on head, naked except for chamlys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopia.

19mm, approximately 3 gm, A.D. 305-306

Reference: RIC VI, Siscia 171a Actually there is no exact match for this type at Wildwinds, as their quarter follis example bears the legend FL VAL SEVERVS.  

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[mc9]

Galerius and Galeria Valeria :

Galerius as caesar:

GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES : Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

CONCORDIA MILITVM // K A : Galerius standing right, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left, holding sceptre.

Radiatus, A.D.293-305, Cyzicus, RIC 19b.

 

Valeria :

GAL VAL – ERIA AVG : Diademed bust right wearing embroidered robes

VENERIV – ICTRICI */B/SM•TS Venus standing left, holding apple and raising hem of skirt

Follis, A.D.308-310, Thessalonica, RIC VI 36 p.514

GAL VAL - ERIA AVG : diademed and draped bust right

VENERI VICTRICI  Δ /✱ / MKV: Venus standing facing, head left, holding up apple and lifting skirt

Nummus. AD 311, Cyzicus,  RIC VI 71 p.590

Other hair and bust style

Edited April 10, 2023 by mc9

[wittwolff]

Galerius as Caesar:

And as Emperor:

And here his wife Galeria Valeria, only daughter of Emperor Diocletian:

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by wittwolff

[John Conduitt]

Galerius as Augustus Follis, 305-307

London. Bronze, 26mm, 9.59g. Laureate and armoured bust of Galerius right, seen from three quarters forward; IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG. Genius standing left, chlamys on left shoulder, holding a patera in the right hand and a cornucopia in the left hand; GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI (RIC 52b).

Severus II Follis, 305-306

Londinium. Bronze, 28mm, 10.37g. Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right; SEVERVS NOBILISSIMVS C. Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae; GENIO POPVLI ROMANI (RIC VI, 60).

[kapphnwn]

Ar Argenteus of Galerius Antioch 298 AD Obv Head right laureate. Rv Campgate with three turrets RIC 43/4a Gautier 45r This Coin referenced. 3.18 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen

[Qcumbor]

Galerius from Heraclea and Galeria Valeria from Alexandria :

 

Severus II from Heraclea :

 

And Domitius Domitianus from ...Alexandria of course (Emmett plate coin) :

Q

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Fabulous Domitius Domitianus coin @Qcumbor. Either a folle or a tet is on my list of "one day" transactions. His successor Achilleus, who ruled for perhaps a few months before being defeated and executed, is not known to have struck any coins. But perhaps one will be found. He actually has his own cartouche....in hieroglyphs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurelius_Achilleus

Edited April 10, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Jims,Coins]

- Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at ALE = Alexanderia during the reign of GALERIUS between 308 - 310 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.GAL.VAL.MAXIMIANUS.P.F.AVG. laur. hd. r., divergent wreath ties. Rev. GENIO.IMPERATORIS. Genius standing facing, head l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys across left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows & holding cornucopia, in r. field K, in l, field A over P, in ex, ALE. C. 48 RCS #3719. RICVI #101a pg.678.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at ANT=Antiochia during the reign of GALERIUS between 308-309 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.GAL.VAL.MAXIMIANVS.P.F.AVG. laur. hd. r. Rev. GENIO.IMP-ERATORIS. Genius standing l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera, (from which liqueur flows), l. cornucopia. RCS #3719. RIC VI #106a pg. 631.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at Thessalonica during the reign of GALERIUS between 308-311 A.D. for his wife GALERIA VALERIA Obv. GAL.VALERIA.AVG. Diademed and draped bust r. Rev. VENERI.V-ICTRICI. Venus standing facing, head l., holding up apple, l. raising drapery over l. shoulder, in ex. *r.  RCS #3730. RICVI #35 pg. 514. DVM #3.

[Jims,Coins]

- Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at ANT=Antiochia during the reign of SEVERUS II between 306 - 307 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.FL.VAL.SEVERVS.P.F.AVG. Laureate head r. Rev. GENIO.POPVLI-ROMANI. Genius stg. l. modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera, l cornucopia. DVM #8.

- Bronze coin (AE Quarter Follis) minted at Siscia during the reign of SEVERUS II, as Caesar, between 305 - 306 A.D. Obv. SEVERVS.NOB. C. Laureate head r. Rev. GENIO.POP-VLI-ROMANI. Genius stg. l. modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera, l. cornucopia. RICVI #171a pg.475. DVM #13. Obv. Centered low, Rev. nearly centered, legends generally weak, moderately grainy brown surfaces, decent portrait; scarce.

 

[Limes]

11 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

And Domitius Domitianus from ...Alexandria of course (Emmett plate coin) :

Absolutely fantastic!

[mc9]

Severus II :

caesar :

FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAES : radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Severus II right

CONCORDIA MILITVM // ALE : Severus II standing right, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left, A between,

radiate, (AD 305), Alexandrie, RIC 60a

augustus :

IMP SEVERVS PF AVG : laureate and cuirassed bust right

GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI S – F//PTR : Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder (falls low), holding patera and cornucopiae

Follis, A.D.306 - 307,Trier, RIC 353c p.207

[wittwolff]

I dont know why we intermingle Galerius and Severus II. but here is my only Severus II. :

[DonnaML]

I'm afraid I have nothing for Severus II or Domitius Domitianus, but I do have one for each of Galerius and Galeria. The first is from the Dattari Collection, by way of the 2018 Jesus Vico sale of Dattari's non-Alexandrian coins:

Galerius, AE Follis, 305-306 AD, Cyzicus Mint (4th Officina). Obv. Laureate head right, IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG/ Rev. Genius, wearing modius on head, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, holding cornucopiae in left hand and pouring libation from patera in right hand, GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; mintmark K Δ [K = Cyzicus, Delta = 4th Officina] in exergue. RIC VI Cyzicus 21b & 25a (pp. 582, 584), Sear RCV IV 14546, Cohen 81.  27.8 mm., 9.65 g. 12 h. Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection (before 1923); ex Jesus Vico 2018.

Galeria Valeria (wife of Galerius and daughter of Diocletian). AE Follis, 308-310 AD, Cyzicus Mint (4th Officina). Obv. Diademed and draped bust right, GAL VAL-ERIA AVG / Rev. Venus standing facing, head left, right hand holding up apple, left hand raising drapery over left shoulder, VENERI V-ICTRICI; Δ [Delta = 4th Officina] in left field; MKV [Cyzicus] in exergue. RIC VI Cyzicus 46 (p. 586), Sear RCV IV 14597.  24x26 mm., 5.7 g.

 

[Roman Collector]

Apparently, we're on Galerius, Galeria Valeria, and Sev Deuce. I have some.

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. Galerius had a slow, painful, embarrassing death from a severe infection of the skin and soft tissue of the crotch called Fournier gangrene. It's too gruesome to describe in a family forum, but you can read about the most loathsome disease of the emperor Galerius here.

Galeria Valeria, AD 293(?)-311.
Roman Æ Follis, 26 mm, 6.64 gm.
Nicomedia mint, 308-310 CE.
Obv: GAL VAL-ERIA AVG, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: VENERI VI-CTRICI CMH, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple and drapery; in exergue, SMNA.

 

Severus II, Caesar 1 May AD 305 - 25 July, 306.
Roman billon follis, 9.10 g, 27.1 mm, 11 h.
Rome, third officina, c. AD 305.
Obv: SEVERVS NOB CAES, laureate head, right.
Rev: SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; -/*//R T.
Refs: RIC vi, p. 365, 123a; Cohen 62; RCV 14638.
 

[Severus Alexander]

I'd better sneak these in before regime change!

First, the easy choices.  My favourite Galeria Valeria:

(An ex Dattari coin, I still need to take my own photo of it.  I regret not buying more in the series of ex Dattari sales that Vico held.  Nice to see your Galerius example, @DonnaML!)

My favourite Severus II portrait is an easy pick too.  As is often the case, there's something appealing about his Lugdunum portraits:

On 4/11/2023 at 7:54 AM, wittwolff said:

I dont know why we intermingle Galerius and Severus II.

They were best buds! 🙂 

Galerius is trickier for me.  Candidates include this Antioch follis (also ex Dattari):

This Heraclea as Augustus:

This Trier Moneta:

And finally this Rome argenteus:

Looking at all four just now I can rule out the Antioch as overly generic, and I'm leaning towards the argenteus.  But maybe I'm biased by the silver and toning!

[Severus Alexander]

And now for Maximinus II Daia!  Although I have a few coins of his, the choice of portrait turns out to be an easy one.  It's this follis from Antioch:

It's another ex Dattari from the Vico sales.  Too bad about the doubling on the reverse.

[Qcumbor]

My best Maximinus II Daia is ex @zumbly and ex CNG :

 

Maximinus II Daia (308-313), follis, Alexandria mint, AD 312-313.
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate head right.
GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left holding head of Serapis left in right hand, cornucopia in left; star, N and palm-branch in left field, gamma in right, ALE in exergue.
5.10 gr - 21 mm.
Ref : RIC VI Alexandria 160b
From the zumbly collection, Ex CNG

Q

Edited to add : and ex AMCC1 auction, held by our own and respected @Severus Alexander 🙂 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Qcumbor

[mc9]

My favorite portraits, i like them all.

As nobilissimus caes

MAXIMINUS NOBILISSIMUS CAES : laureate, drapped and cuirassed

GENIO POPV – LI ROMANI :  Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chamys over left shoulder,

right holding patera and left cornucopiae

Folles, London, A.D.305 – 306, RIC VI 59 p.128As fil avgg

 

As fil avgg

MAXIMINUS • FIL • AVGG : laureated head right

GENIO CA – ESARIS ✱/ Є //•SMTS• : Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but from chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae

FOLLIS, A.D.308 – 310, Thessalonica, RIC VI 32a p.514

 

As invictus :

IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINO P F INV AVG : laureate head right

GENIO CA – ESARIS /✱ / // HTΔ : Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but from chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae

Folles, A.D.310, Heraclea, RIC VI 47 p.537

 

As augustus

IMP MAXIMINUS P F AVG : laureate, drapped and cuirassed bust right

SOLI IN – VI – CTO COMITI //RT : Sol standing right, head left, chlamys hanging behind, right hand raised, left holding up globe

Folles, Rome, A.D.312 – 313, RIC VI 337b p.389

[Pellinore]

Freshly inspired by my discovery of the CoinTalk Forum, in 2016 I bought this fascinating Maximinus II Daia coin from the estate of Tom Cederlind at a CNG auction. It was crowned 'Three Stars 2016' in my coin system and put in one of the many Top Ten Lists that populate the forums in the last days of the year. 

2572. Maximinus II Daia 307-311, AE follis Alexandria. Obv. Head to the right, IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG. Rev. Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys across left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left. K in left field, gamma / P in right field. GENIO IMP/ERATORIS. ALE in exergue. 25,5 mm, 6.61 gr. Ex-Tom Cederlind. RIC VI, 105c. CNG auction 384 nr. 647, Oct. 2016. 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by Pellinore

[Jims,Coins]

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at ANT=Antioch during the reign of MAXIMINUS II between 310 - 311 A.D. Obv. IMP.C.GAL.VAL.MAXIMINVS.P.F.AVG. Laur. bust r. Rev. GENIO.EX-ERCITVS Genius stg, l. modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, holding cornucopia & sacrificing with patera above altar at feet to left; crescent in upper left field. Officina letter B in right field.    RICVI #147c pg.638.

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at Nicomedia during the reign of MAXIMINUS II, as Caesar, in 308-310 A.D. Obv. GAL.VAL.MAXIMINVS.NOB.CAES. laur. bust r. Rev. GENIO.CAESARIS Genius stg. l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l., holding patera, l. cornucopia. SEAR #3753. RICVI #55 pg.562. DVM #12.

Does anyone know what the HD stands for?

Edited April 12, 2023 by Jims,Coins

[John Conduitt]

Maximinus II as Augustus AE2, 310-312

Londinium. Bronze, 22mm, 4.90g. Laureate and cuirassed bust right; IMP MAXIMINVS PF AVG. Genio standing left, tower on head, loins draped, holding patera and cornucopiae, star in right field; GENIO-POP ROM; mintmark PLN (RIC VI, 209b).

[kapphnwn]

Ae Follis of Maximinus II Diai as Caesar Carthage 305-306 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv. Carthage standing facing head left holding bundles of fruit in each hand RIC 40b 10.38 grms 27 mm Photo by W. Hansen

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Genio Augusti type, Maximinus II Daia Maximinus as Augustus

Type Reduced AE Follis, 22mm 4.3 grams

Obverse: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, Laureate head right

Reverse: GENIO AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, holding head of Serapis in right hand, naked but for chamlys over left shoulder, cornucopia in left hand, palm branch at feet

Mint: Alexandria Reference: RIC VI 157b, p. 685 

[DonnaML]

This coin has a stylized portrait of Maximinus II that I like very much:

Maximinus II (Daia) Caesar (nephew of Galerius), AE Follis, 308-309 AD, Antioch Mint (2nd Officina).. Obv. Laureate head right, GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES/ Rev. Genius standing left with chlamys over left shoulder and modius on head, holding cornucopiae in left arm and holding patera, from which libations flow, in extended right hand; crescent in upper left field and S [= 2nd Officina] in right field; GENIO CA-ESARIS*[star at end of reverse legend]; in exergue, mintmark ANT [=Antioch]. RIC VI 103 (p. 631), Sear RCV IV 14725, Cohen 40-41. 25 mm., 6.90 g.

This coin has no portrait of the Emperor at all, but I think it should count nonetheless:

Anonymous civic issue, reign of Maximinus II, AE quarter follis [Sear] or 1/12 nummus [McAlee p. 106], Antioch Mint (3rd Officina), ca. 311-312 AD. Obv. Tyche (city-goddess of Antioch) wearing mural crown, seated facing on rock, holding wheat or  grain ears with right hand and, with left hand, holding a two-handled basket (filled with wheat or grain ears[?]) resting on ground to right, river god Orontes swimming below, GENIO ANTIOCHINI / Rev. Apollo standing left, pouring libation from patera held in right hand, and holding lyre in raised left hand, Γ [gamma, signifying 3rd Officina] in right field, APOLLONI SANCTO around; in exergue, SMA [meaning Sigmata Moneta Antioch (money struck at Antioch) or Sacra Moneta Antioch]. [Not in RIC; see http://www.notinric.lechstepniewski.info/6ant_civ_4v.html.]  Sear RCV IV 14927 (ill); Vagi 2954; McAlee 170(c) (ill. p. 107); Van Heesch Type 3 [Van Heesch, J., "The last civic coinages and the religious policy of Maximinus Daza (AD 312)" in Numismatic Chronicle (1993), pp. 63-75 & Pl. 11]; ERIC II, “Anonymous Religious Coinage of the Fourth Century,” pp. 1198-1199, No. 2. 16 mm., 1.35 g. [Struck either (1) to promote propaganda against Christians and aid in their persecution (and thus traditionally denominated the “Persecution issue”; or (2) as proposed by David Kalina, for use in festivals, including the Festival of Apollo at Daphne, held in conjunction with the Olympics in Antioch in 312 AD. See Kalina, David, “Anonymous Civic Coinage,” Series 1, at http://allcoinage.com/anonymous_civic.php.]

[dougsmit]

Most Maximinus II coins we see are folles but you might keep an eye out for a Billon Argenteus.  The design was nice but the alloy was terrible and so low in silver that the they simply did not survive burial at all well.  Many look as bad as mine.  If you find one on good metal, I suggest you buy it.   RIC 826 page 224