Maximianfolles

Maximian, a.k.a. Maximianus, Roman Emperor AD 286-305, co-ruler with Diocletian.
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI folles.
(For an introduction to coins of the First Tetrarchy, see here. For folles of the other emperors: Diocletian, Constantius, Galerius, or other rulers. Folles by mint.)

Roman coins ("folles") of the common GENIO POPVLI ROMANI type from various mints. Each has the design
Genius standing left with a modius* on his head and holding a patera and cornucopia, naked but for a cloak ("chlamys") over his left shoulder and hanging down behind the cornucopia.
* RIC makes a distinction between a "modius on head"

and a "head towered"

. Often the headdress is somewhere in between these examples and it is so hard to draw the line that I have decided not to attempt to make the distinction. It is not obvious it is an meaningful difference.

What's new? 2024, July 18: Click on the images to enlarge them.
2022, August 16: Maximian from Trier and from Cyzicus.
Oct. 23, 2021. Maximian from Rome.

(Click the obverse image to go to a larger image of both sides and its description.)

Maximian
London
27 mm. 9.87 grams
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
LON mintmark
RIC London 1b, "c. 297"

The LON mintmark is rare and highly desirable. At any given time it is unlikely any are on the market and the wait until the next one is offered can be long.

Maximian
London
28-26 mm. 10.54 grams.
IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
RIC London 23b

Maximian
London
28 mm. 9.89 grams.
IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
RIC London 23b

This coin has an especially expressive portrait.

Maximian.
London
28-25 mm. 11.05 grams.
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
RIC London 17 or 43.
Cloke and Toone 2.01.007
Sear IV 13237.

Maximian
London
27-25 mm. 9.42 grams
MAXIMIANVS AVG
Not in RIC, but Hugh Cloke
assigned it 3.01.020.5 Bust D2(z)left
"c. 303 - 1 May 305"
and it has been reported to the BM.

Maximian
Trier
28 mm. 11.30 grams.
S F in fields
PTR in exergue
RIC Trier 576b "303-May 305" and

Maximian
Trier
26-25 mm. 9.62 grams.
IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
Laureate head left
B Γ in fields.
TR in exergue
RIC VI Trier 176bB, page 182
"Scarce, c. 296-7"

Maximian
Lugdunum = Lyons
28 mm. 10.16 grams.
IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG
altar left, A right
PLG in exergue
RIC Lugdunum 113b "c.301-303"

Maximian as Senior Augustus, second reign
27-26 mm. 7.98 grams.
Lugdunum = Lyons
DN MAXIMIANO PF S AVG
altar left, N right
PLG in exergue
RIC Lugdunum 206 "c. Spring 307"

Note the early use of the title "DN," Dominus Nostrum (Our Lord). This issue is shared with Constantine as Caesar, so the RIC date must have been selected to be just before Maximian agreed that Constantine was an active Augustus.

Maximian
Ticinum
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
star in field left
PT• in exergue
RIC Ticinum 33b. "c.298-299"

Maximian
Aquileia
28-25 mm. 9.11 grams.
IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
altar in field left
AQS in exergue
RIC Aquileia 27b. "c. 299"

Maximian
Rome
27 mm. 11.05 grams.
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
R S
A
RIC Rome -- because it has a different obverse legend from 71b, so it would be 71c.
Sear IV 13254

Maximian
Siscia
27 mm. 10.13 grams.
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
A in right field
*SIS in exergue
RIC Siscia 85b "c. 295"

Maximian
Serdica
27-26 mm. 9.66 grams.
Γ in field right
•SM•SD•
RIC Serdica 3b "c.303/4-305"

Maximian
Thessalonica
28 mm. 8.11 grams
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
Γ in field right
TS in exergue
RIC Thessalonica 23b "c. 302-303"

Maximian
Thessalonica
29-27 mm. 10.27 grams
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
Δ in right field
• T S • in exergue
RIC Thessalonica 25b "c. 302-303"

Maximian
Heraclea Thracia
28 mm. 8.11 grams.
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
HTA in exergue
RIC Heraclea 19b "c.297-298"

Maximian
Cyzicus (Kyzicus)
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
KΔ in exergue
RIC Cyzicus 12b "c.295-296"

Maximian
Cyzicus
28 mm. 9.17 grams.
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
KΔ in exergue
RIC Cyzicus 12a "c.295-296"

Maximian
Antioch
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
K in field left, E over V in field right
ANT in exergue
RIC Antioch 54b "c. 300-301"

Maximian
Alexandria
27-25 mm.
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
B in right field
ALE in exergue
RIC Alexandria 14b "c. 294"

Maximian
Alexandria
26 mm. 9.73 grams.
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
XX in field left, E over I in field right
ALE in exergue
RIC Alexandria 32b "c. 301"

The revival of the mark "XXI" suggests Diocletian's Edict of Maximum Prices was accompanied by an attempt to assure the people that the coins had the composition introduced by Aurelian, "20 parts copper and one part silver" (nearly 5% silver). Since silver was worth, by weight, 80 times the value of copper, every percent mattered to the intrinsic value of the coin. (See the Diocletian page for a coin of this issue which had its silver content analyzed.)

Maximian, issued by Domitius Domitianus
Alexandria
25 mm. 9.81 grams.
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
eagle at feet left, A in right field
ALE in exergue
RIC Alexandria 18b "c.295-296"

During the revolt of Domitius Domitianus at Alexandria he issued this type in his own name and in the names of the four tetrarchs. They are distinguished by the eagle.


London	London	London	London

Trier	Trier, left-facing	Lyons	Ticinum

Aquileia	Siscia	Thessalonica	Thessalonica

Heraclea	Nicomedia	Cyzicus	Antioch


Alexandria	Alexandria	Alexandria under Domitius Domitianus	Serdica