Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

GENIO POPVLI ROMANI folles (nummi) of the First and Second Tetrarchies are among the most common Roman coins. They have the virtue of large size. This one is of Severus II as Augustus from shortly after the Second Tetrarchy. 

Severus2GPRmmKB2255.jpg.785f4b3ac36c382608c9a3afb4e142d8.jpg

28 mm. 10.93 grams.
Severus II, Caesar 305-306, Augustus 306-307 (i.e. after Constantius died).
RIC VI Cyzicus 27b "c. 307, early"  Sear IV 14674.

The reverse type was introduced c. 294 in the coin reform of Diocletian. Few were issued after the Second Tetrarchy (defined by the reign of Constantius as Augustus). This is one of them. 

There is a web site with several pages on the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI type:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/Diocletianfolles.html

Coins of the tetrarchies are introduced here:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/

I love these hefty coins and wish you would show us some of yours!


 

  • Like 18
Posted (edited)

The only Severus II I have is this Sacra Moneta one:

Severus II SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN follis Rome.jpg
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.

Here some GENIO POPVLI ROMANI folles from the Trier mint.

[IMG]
Diocletian, AD 284-305.
Roman billon follis, 8.99 g, 28.3 mm, 6 h.
Trier, AD 302-303.
Obv: IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius, turreted, nude but for chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand; S/F//IITR.
Refs: RIC vi, p. 196, 524a; RCV --.

[IMG]
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.

[IMG]
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.

[IMG]
Constantius I, Caesar, 293-305.
Roman billon follis, 9.95 g, 26.6 mm, 11 h.
Trier, AD 296-97.
Obv: 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 and cornucopiae; A/Γ//TR.
Refs: RIC vi, p. 183, 218a; Cohen 61; RCV 14035.

 

Edited by Roman Collector
I forgot Maximian!
  • Like 17
  • Benefactor
Posted

That is a really sweet coin Warren! You don't find them with complete beaded borders and nice legends and devices like that very often.

I really like the larger LRBs too.

John

Posted

Very nice! @Valentinian

normal_galnew_together-removebg-preview.png.4da3e494a900182a5e6e058124a9784b.png

Galerius Maximianus as Caesar AE Follis minted 297 AD.

11,46 g. 25 mm.

Obv: GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES. Laureate Head right

Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI/ (crescent)/ D// ANT. Genius standing left, holding cornucopiae and patera.

RIC VI 49b Antioch

From an old collection formed in the 1920s. Ex Münzhandlung Kallai, Vienna.

  • Like 15
Posted

My latest GENIO POPVLI ROMANI (with the full legend, i.e. not abbreviated to GENIO POP ROM or similar) is this Constantine from Rome, issued c. 312-313.  These are quite plentiful, I think. (RIC 294a.)

image.jpeg.9cad80009928e8b16ede59aeabbdd516.jpeg

RIC lists one more issue with the full legend at Rome, dated 313... I don't know if there are any later ones at other mints.

Here's one of the first of the type, issued in Ticinum in 294:

image.jpeg.d784731243c89951b47c43f62152b33d.jpeg

The basic idea goes back at least to Nero, though.  I won this As of his quite recently:

image.jpeg.7d8e8bcaec1b5a5d75336eac6d92514f.jpeg

  • Like 14
Posted
33 minutes ago, Severus Alexander said:

RIC lists one more issue with the full legend at Rome, dated 313... I don't know if there are any later ones at other mints.

I'm pretty sure the Alexandrian type below is the last with the full legend (vs shortened GENIO POP ROM).

This is essentially a transitional type from when Licinius took over Maximinus II's mints in 313-314 AD. Maximinus had been issuing GENIO AVGVSTI with localized head of Serapis at Alexandria, and seeing as GENIO AVGVSTI was at that point really a Maximinus type, LIcinius tweaked it to GENIO POPVLI ROMANI instead.

There were two issues of these, first RIC 2-3 with mintmark ALE, then RIC 3-4 with mintmark ALE dot, below:

image.png.e744d747dd903c23a52a3c5e9d24a196.png

image.png.c226929b039d938d1948637ee2cad475.png

 

  • Like 15
  • Thanks 1
Posted

Great coin @Valentinian! I still need to pick up an example from Maximian and Galerius to have a first tetrarchy set.  Here is my favorite Tetrarchy Follis. It is a Constantius invasion issue. This coin is extra special because it belonged to James, a friend who is sorely missed 😞.

06CDF412-F518-4461-B327-D3CCABA79925.jpeg.2f0fb8d8bebb9193756c31940e4e10bf.jpeg

Roman Empire
Constantius Chlorus (Invasion Issue)
AE Follis, silvered, Lugdunum/traveling mint, struck ca. AD 296
Obv.: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; Laureate bust right
Rev.: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia 
Ref.: RIC VI 17a 
Ex James Pickering Collection of Romano-British Coins

  • Like 16
Posted

I like the follis (nummis) They are big impressive coins and can have interesting obverse portraits. Also they tend to have not as many problems associated with them  like sestertii. 

Constantius I As Caesar Lugdunum 301-303 AD Obv Bust left laureate draped with lions skim amd holding club over right shoulder.  Rv Genius of the Roman people standing left cradling cornucopia with left hand and sacrificing over altar with right. RIC 147 9.11 grms 26 mm Photo by W. Hansen

constclor20.jpg.4b6a13435968388469c5fc8428ab9f56.jpg

Probably not that early as this denomination goes but still very impressive. Constantius was the junior member in the House of Hercules. So it is somewhat appropriate that he is seen her as the living embodiment of Hercules.  

  • Like 19
Posted

Nice coin, the pieces of Severus II. as Augustus are quite rare and I sadly couldnt aquire one yet. The latest minted example of this type I got is a bit later in the name of Constantine as Augustus in the Ostia mint so during or shortly after the reign of Maxentius there:

852806102_ConstantineGenio.png.f415177e25786d91f998c6c2f0fcc671.png

Emperor Constantine - Follis - Ostia mint

Obv.: IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG

Rev.: GENIO POP ROM

 

  • Like 15
Posted

This is the latest LRB I have with GENIO that's photographed. 

1067636623_MaximinusIIDaia.jpg.fbcefa14cd9176ddfd0e2e3e288afae5.jpg

Maximinus II, London Mint, 1st Officina, AD 310-312. AE Nummus: 4.28 gm, 22 mm, 7 h. RIC 209b.

  • Like 10
Posted (edited)

Warren,  As usual, an excellent example from the Cyzicus mint.  Well centered on a large flan.

Here is my most recent acquisition, A Nummus of Severus from the London mint:

91618473_SeverusIILondonLeuMay2022.jpeg.05861e60a339dc8e29ad8e6f5d32153d.jpeg

Obverse: SEVERVS NOBILIS C; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus II to right.
Reverse:  GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI The Genius of the Roman people standing front, head to left, holding patera in his right hand and cornucopiae in his left  
Mint: London  
Weight:  9.45 g., 29mm  
Reference:  RIC 63a (London), C&T 4.02.019  
Provenance:  Leu Auction 12 Lot 1541. May 15, 2022

Edited by SteveJBrinkman
  • Like 17
Posted (edited)

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.

 

- Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at ANT=Antiochia during the reign of CONSTANTIUS I between 300 - 301 A.D. as Caesar. Obv. FL.VAL.CONSTANTIVS.NOB.CAES.: Rev. GENIO.POPV-LI. ROMANI.: Genius standing l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera (from which liquor flows) l. cornucopia. RCS #3673. RIC VI #55a pg. 620.

 

Bronze coin (AE Follis) minted at .TS. =Thessalonica during the reign of GALERIUS, as Caesar, between 302-303 A.D. Obv. GAL.VAL.MAXIMIANVS.NOB.CAES.; Rev. GENIO.POPVLI. ROMANI. Genius standing l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera, (from which liqueur flows), l. cornucopia. RCS #3709. RICVI #26b pg. 513. DVM #29.

 

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.

 

 

JBA-138 OBV.jpg

JBA-138 REV.jpg

JD-139 OBV.jpg

JD-139 REV.jpg

JEB-302 OBV.jpg

JEB-302 REV.jpg

JF-141 OBV.jpg

JF-141 REV.jpg

JFA-315 OBV.jpg

JFA-315 REV.jpg

Edited by Jims,Coins
edited pictures
  • Like 9
Posted (edited)
20 hours ago, Valentinian said:

GENIO POPVLI ROMANI folles (nummi) of the First and Second Tetrarchies are among the most common Roman coins. They have the virtue of large size. This one is of Severus II as Augustus from shortly after the Second Tetrarchy. 

Severus2GPRmmKB2255.jpg.785f4b3ac36c382608c9a3afb4e142d8.jpg

28 mm. 10.93 grams.
Severus II, Caesar 305-306, Augustus 306-307 (i.e. after Constantius died).
RIC VI Cyzicus 27b "c. 307, early"  Sear IV 14674.

The reverse type was introduced c. 294 in the coin reform of Diocletian. Few were issued after the Second Tetrarchy (defined by the reign of Constantius as Augustus). This is one of them. 

There is a web site with several pages on the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI type:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/Diocletianfolles.html

Coins of the tetrarchies are introduced here:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/

I love these hefty coins and wish you would show us some of yours!


 

Valentinian, Your nummus has an attractive patina is is quite hefty for a late issue ☺️. I've probably posted most of my nummi more than once on this website 🥱, but will post again a group of nummi issued under Constantius I, my favorite emperor of the 1st tetrarchy. All these coins are from different mints & all were struck while he was Caesar, except the last one issued as Augustus.

163258395_NGC2491172-014AlKowskyColl..jpg.ce85a47adb74bb5114a863e65b3309b6.jpg

702576750_2491170-023AKCollection.jpg.8f1fc28da3a4d3a623decf1a2c6399ca.jpg

947812293_NGC2491170-024AlKowskyCollection.jpg.fb32eda3ee15177855c42c5a1b2ceb2c.jpg

657221356_NGC2491170-025AlKowskyCollection(2).jpg.8e6f975dac62427bb27f4eca4c71cb5b.jpg

1620932686_NGC2491170-027AlKowskyCollection(2).jpg.8d5b96fa72ce5e2684c3fcb69d3f6803.jpg

This nummus was struck at Officina #1, AD 301-303.

1380900555_2491170-026AKCollection.jpg.38cb658d6d34b8cea4847f85a74894be.jpg

Edited by Al Kowsky
correction
  • Like 12
Posted

I have only one with the shorter GENIO POP ROM legend.

24049.1.71_1.jpg.75cd15d35e8402a3dc362684036a7f18.jpg

Maximian BI Nummus. Lugdunum, AD 308-309. IMP C VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust to right / GENIO POP ROM, Genius, wearing modius on head, standing to left, holding patera over altar and cornucopiae; CI in left field, H over S in right field, PLC in exergue. RIC VI 288. 5.98g, 27mm, 7h.

  • Like 10
  • Benefactor
Posted (edited)

I don't actively collect later Roman Imperial bronze/billon coins anymore, but I do have a few Genio Popvli examples:

Diocletian, silvered AE Follis/Nummus, 294-295 AD, Nicomedia Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG/ Rev. Genius standing left, pouring out patera & holding cornucopiae, GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, mintmark SMN (Nicomedia). RIC VI 27a p. 556), Sear RCV IV 12788, ERIC II 539, Cohen 106.  27.8 mm., 8.6 g.

image.jpeg.eeac48b3cd1e617daaa2e7f12d527697.jpeg

Maximian, silvered AE Follis/Nummus, 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.

image.jpeg.93c64b674d375f2c267957216ae0a936.jpeg

Constantius I Chlorus Caesar (father of Constantine I), Billon Follis/Nummus, 296-297 AD, Heraclea Mint (3rd Officina). Obv. Laureate head right, FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES / Rev. Genius wearing modius on head, standing left, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, holding cornucopiae in left hand and pouring libation from patera in right hand, GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI; mintmark HT Γ [gamma] [Γ= 3rd Officina] in exergue. RIC VI Heraclea 18a (p. 531), Sear RCV IV 14061.  29 mm., 9.91 g.

image.jpeg.48e6cf896a469b584ed76dcc731a1683.jpeg

Galerius, AE Follis/Nummus, 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.

 image.png.7baf0c18f6c9022a48236eaee4c4a234.png

Finally, a "GENIO" without the POPVLI that otherwise looks like all the others:

Maximinus II (Daia) Caesar (nephew of Galerius), AE Follis/Nummus, 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]; in exergue, mintmark ANT [=Antioch]. RIC VI 103 (p. 631), Sear RCV IV 14725, Cohen 40-41. 25 mm., 6.90 g.

image.jpeg.4553b152f656813ae0eb57c0baf97a15.jpeg

 Does anyone know the reason for the different legend?

Edited by DonnaML
  • Like 9
Posted
8 hours ago, DonnaML said:

Does anyone know the reason for the different legend?

When Diocletian had introduced the nummus with his coinage reform of 294 AD, his initial types were  GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, celebrating the genius of the roman people, issued from all mints, and also a novel tetrarchic GENIO AVGG ET CAESS NN type (celebrating the genius of the collective tetrarchs), only issued only from Cyzicus and Nicomedia.

A little later c.307-308 (before the conference at Carnuntum), with the second tetrarchy then spiraling out of control, Galerius appears to have wanted to emphasize the legitimate tetrarchs and pecking order, and apparently to hell with the roman people, so he reformed the coinage dropping the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI type and adding differentiated types for the augusti and caesars, initially GENIO IMPERATORIS and GENIO CAESARIS, then quickly adding GENIO AVGVSTI used by some mints as an alternative to GENIO IMPERATORIS.

Galerius' eastern caesar, Maximinus II, who controlled the Antioch mint, naturally followed Galerius and issued these same GENIO IMPERATORIS/AVGVSTI and CAESARIS types (and a brief GENIO FIL AVGG for Constantine) up to his death in 313 AD.

These GENIO (roughly "guarding spirit") types in general go quite a long way back, for example with Nero having issued a GENIO AVGVSTI type, and Hadrian a GENIO P.R. aureus (the first GENIO POP. ROM. ?).

 

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Posted

My latest...perhaps tied with my Severus as Caesar (305-306).

Galerius as Augustus Follis, 305-307image.png.ff1c118cf6c3f3d233113148e8b65962.pngLondon. 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).

  • Like 7

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...