I must confess that one reason I have been considering sending coins out for the dread NGC slab is the lingering fear of being 'hoodwinked' !
I had all but given up on collecting silver way back in the late 1980's
Traded in what I had and invested the proceeds went into copper bronze and "billon"
I felt reasonably confident in my ability to spot fakes but this was shattered a few years back when I purchased a Constantius as Augustus follis which after some research turned out to be a 'dud' !
I would post pics but I exiled the offending piece to my brothers care
For what it is worth ... he was shocked by its quality !
Which brings me to these two fine 'fellows'
Maximianus came in a group lot
If memory serves that was via Switzerland (Leu)
My record with them was decidely mixed and included a Roman bronze lot that much to my chagrin turned out to spray painted grey ! At least they agreed to the return despite the clear "All Sales Final" admonition
Of Maximianus I am very unsure
Second reign issue of Trier ?
The color is silver with no trace of Æ beneath !
But the reverse is maybe too good ?
26mm 6.75 grams
I want it to be genuine.... but is it ?
Next comes that other Maximianus ..... GAL VAL
Can't remember now how I came by it
ebay I think !
But I always was a sucker for the "Lefties" !
Stylistically all seems fine
But the flan is somewhat irregular and shows evidence of some hammering on the edge (2-3 & 8-9 o'clock) but that might have been the result of a hasty manufacture ?
Not sure really
80% certain it's genuine
But I much prefer 100% !!!
Galerius as Cæsar
Follis of Trier
27-30mm 8.42 grams
Opinions ?
Anyone ? Anyone ?
Posted 03/24/2026 8:36 pm
