Walking Back In Time From 1600 To Antiquity By Decades (V2.0)

Glad to see you here.

Nice examples, everyone!

The GENIO type is a common reverse and was issued by the Tetrarchic emperors for over a decade, but the seemingly peaceful scene depicted on the reverse was very contentious for many people in the years A.D. 303- 313.

During this period, Christians were persecuted and many were killed because of what was depicted on the reverse. The design was modeled after a statue of the Spirit of the Roman People (GENIO POPVLI ROMANI) which used to stand in the Roman forum. The reverse on the coin below depicts Genius holding a patera and pouring a libation over an altar.

Diocletian feared that Christians were weakening the Empire and in A.D. 303 declared that everyone must perform public sacrifices to demonstrate their loyalty to the Emperor and Rome. This was really just a conservative move to reaffirm traditional civic virtues. The act depicted on the reverse of the GENIO coin was one that Roman citizens were expected to perform; but many Christians refused and were martyred. The persecution was firmly enforced in the Eastern Empire, less so in the West. The persecution officially ended in A.D. 313.

Something to think about the next time that you see a common GENIO coin.

Maximinus II GENIO EXERCITVS from Antioch




Maximinus II
A.D. 310- 311
AE follis 23mm 7.5g
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG; laureate head right.
GENIO EXERCITVS; (Genius of the Army) Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows over altar & cornucopiae; crescent in left field, Z in right.
In ex. ANT
RIC VI Antioch 147c


Maximinus II SOLI INVICTAE from Antioch


The mint of Antioch struck these types for Galerius and Maximinus. Antioch was likely the principal residence of Maximinus II from 309- 311, so not surprising this special type was struck there. This type may also have referenced the campaign against the Sassanids (not only the martial bust, but also battle scene on shield) waged by Maximinus (late 309-early 310) and perhaps also his desire to be named Augustus; which may have happened during the same campaign-- "at the last general muster he had been saluted by his army under the title of Augustus." (Lactantius XXXII) Galerius recognized him as Augustus (mid 310) but since the troops of Maximinus had already raised him up, this was probably just a formality.


a bit from Ammianus Marcellinus on the draco standards carried by the horsemen on the shield-

"Behind the motley cavalcade that preceded him the emperor's person was surrounded by purple banners woven in the form of dragons and attached to the tops of gilded and jewelled spears; the breeze blew through their gaping jaws so that they seemed to be hissing with rage, and their voluminous tails streamed behind them on the wind." The Later Roman Empire book 16 10:7




Maximinus II
A.D. 310
AE follis 26x27mm 5.9g
MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; bust l., helmeted [with gryphon crest] and cuirassed with gorgon on breast, spear over r. shoulder, shield decorated with two horsemen with draco standards and four prisoners on l. arm.
SOLI INVICTAE; Sol, rad. and in long robe, stg. facing, head l., r. raised, l. holding up globe, in facing quadriga; two horses turn l., and two right; in middle B.
In ex. ANT
cf. RIC VI Antioch 144


Maximinus II HERCVLI VICTORI from Nicomedia




Maximinus II
A.D. 311
AE follis 20mm 5.2g
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, right hand behind back, left leaning on club covered by lion's skin, B in left field.
in ex. SMN
RIC VI Nicomedia 68

Reverse with Farnese Hercules


Maximinus II BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS from Alexandria




Maximinus II
A.D. 311
26mm 6.8g
IMP C GALER VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS; Genius standing left, holding patera & cornucopiae; crescent over K in left field, Γ over X in right.
In ex. ALE
RIC VI Alexandria 144b


Maximinus II GENIO POP ROM from London





Maximinus II
A.D. 311- 312
20x23mm 4.5g
IMP MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing left, tower on head, loins draped, r. holding patera, l. cornucopiae; #10038; in right field.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 209b; LMCC 7.05.011, 2nd ed.



Maximinus II VIRTVTI EXERCITVS from Nicomedia




Maximinus II
A.D. 312
#1236; follis 21mm 4.2g
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Mars advancing r., dragging captive by the hair, l. holding trophy and shield; in right, #10038; over Δ
in ex. SMN
RIC VI Nicomedia 78b

Workshop not in RIC

RIC describes the figure on the reverse as Virtus; but it is actually Mars.


Maximinus II SOLI INVICTO from Antioch




Maximinus II
A.D. 312
AE follis 20x21mm 5.6g
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
SOLI INVICTO; Sol standing left in long robe, right hand raised, left hand holding head of Serapis; B in left and #10038; in right field.
In ex. ANT
RIC VI Antioch 167b


GENIO ANTIOCHENI anonymous pagan civic coinage under Maximinus II




Anonymous pagan civic coinage under Maximinus II
ca. A.D. 312
AE quarter nummus
15mm 1.9g
GENIO ANTIOCHENI; Statue of the Tyche of Antioch on rock, below the river god Orontes.
APOLLONI SANCTO; Apollo, stg.l. holding patera and lyre, in right field Z.
In ex. SMA
Mint of Antioch
Vagi 2954; Van Heesch 3a


Maximinus II GENIO AVGVSTI CMH from Cyzicus




Maximinus II
A.D. 311- 312
22x23mm 6.1g
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG; laureate head right.
GENIO AVGVSTI CMH; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows & cornucopiae over right; E in right field.
In ex. MKV
RIC VI Cyzicus 86a

@Spence Your coin is actually a FEL TEMP two captives with Constantius II on obverse

@Victor - corrected the typo. Thank you

Constantine I AE Follis.
Ticinum, 312-313 AD. 21mm irr., 3.6 g.
CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVI-C-TO COMITI, Sol standing facing, head facing, holding globe and raising right hand. Mintmark ST.
RIC VI Ticinum 133.

last post of the day...I promise.





Constantine I
A.D. 315
18mm 1.3g
CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG COS IIII; trabeate bust left with Victory on globe in right.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol stg. left, raising r. hand, globe in l.; chlamys across l. shoulder; T-F across fields.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons --; Bastien 554

Issued in A.D. 315 for the fourth consulship of Constantine...perhaps Constantine was actually in Lugdunum at the time

This is considered a dated coin, since we know that Constantine was consul for the fourth time in A.D. 315

This coin is not in RIC for the bust type, it should come after RIC 24. It is in Bastien as #554.







Constantine I
A.D. 315
21x22mm 3.1g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; cuirassed bust left wearing laureate helmet with wreath on side; shield with wolf and twins on left, Victory on globe in right, presenting wreath to Constantine.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol stg. left, raising r. hand, globe in l.; chlamys across l. shoulder; across fields T/F.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons 22; Bastien 553







Constantine I
A.D. 316
19x20mm 3.4gm
CONSTANTINVS AVG; bust left, laureate, cuirassed and raising right hand.
SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol rad., raising r. hand, globe in l.; stg. l., chlamys across l. shoulder. A/S across fields.
in ex. PLG
RIC VII Lyons --; Bastien 605

not in RIC for the L2 l. bust, it should be listed after Lyons 61. It is, however, in Bastien, with one example noted.







Constantine I
A.D. 312- 313
21mm 4.7g
IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing right, leaning on club and holding Victory on globe and lion's skin.
In ex. R S
RIC VI Rome 299

Workshop not in RIC

ex- Dattari








Constantine I
A.D. 317
17x21mm 2.9gm
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE; Sol radiate, advancing left, raising right hand, whip in left, chlamys flying; A in left field.
In ex. R Q
RIC VII Rome 80







Constantine I
A.D. 312-313
21mm 4.4g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right
MARTI CONSERVATORI; helmeted & cuirassed bust of Mars right
RIC VI Ticinum ---

RIC only lists this type from Trier; but they were also struck at London, Ticinum and Aquileia. Based on style, this one is from Ticinum. Pierre Bastien wrote two articles about these coins in the 70's--

Bastien, Pierre. "Une emission de folles sans marque a Ticinum en 312." Schweizer Münzblätter 20 (1970) : 114- 115.

________. "Folles sans marque emis par Constantin en Italie." Schweizer Münzblätter 24 (1974) : 5- 8.







Constantine I
A.D. 318-19
19mm 2.9g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust right with spear across right shoulder and shield/ buckler on left.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield [wreath] inscribed VOT PR on altar.
in ex. ΓSIS
RIC VII Siscia -

Not in RIC for this bust







Constantine I
A.D. 319
18mm 2.8g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG -- high crested helmet with Chi-Rho, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm decorated with horseman leaping over fallen enemy.
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.
in ex. BSIS•
RIC VII Siscia 61







Constantine I
A.D. 312
AE nummus 23mm 4.8g
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F INV AVG; laureate head right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing facing, head left, chlamys hanging from left shoulder, right holding globe, left leaning on scepter; in left field wreath, Γ in right.
In ex. SMHT
RIC VI Heraclea 72

rare obverse legend with INV[ICTVS]

Workshop Not in RIC







Constantine I
A.D. 312
AE follis 22mm 5.3g
IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Mars advancing right; dragging captive by the hair, left holding trophy and shield; #10038; over Δ in right field.
In ex. SMN
RIC VI Nicomedia 78c

Workshop not listed in RIC

Yes--hopefully we get vigorous participation today, although it may be somewhat muted for Christmas.

Here is my Sasanian Empire Drachm issued under the authority of Hormizd II between 303 and 309 AD:

In general yes, but since you have so many coins from this era, I think that it is fine to group them into logical blocks (as you have been doing).