Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature Sale 3057 7-8 Sep 2017
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Galerius (AD 305-311). AR argenteus (19mm, 3.29 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5. Serdica, 5th officina, ca. AD 305-306. MAXIMIA-NVS AVG, laureate head of Galerius right / VIRTVS MILITVM, city wall with three turrets or beacons, gate open, SM · SD Є in exergue . RIC 11b. RSC 228‡a. Rare! Struck on a broad flan and lightly toned with light golden hues and blazing luster.
NGC identifies this as a coin of Maximian, with a caveat stating "perhaps a coin of Galerius." All four of the original Tetrarchs struck at Serdica during the transitional phase from the first to second Tetrarchy in AD 305-306; since Galerius also adopted the name Maximian, attempting to discern which ruler is named as "Maximianus Augustus" on a coin is problematic at best, particularly since the portraiture at the Serdica mint tended to be even more "generic" than at other mints. However, Maximian's most distinctive facial feature on coinage seems to be a slightly "pug" nose, which is visible on some coins even at Serdica. The nose is straight here, so we opt for Galerius.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1300 USD
Galerius (AD 305-311). AR argenteus (19mm, 3.29 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5. Serdica, 5th officina, ca. AD 305-306. MAXIMIA-NVS AVG, laureate head of Galerius right / VIRTVS MILITVM, city wall with three turrets or beacons, gate open, SM · SD Є in exergue . RIC 11b. RSC 228‡a. Rare! Struck on a broad flan and lightly toned with light golden hues and blazing luster.
NGC identifies this as a coin of Maximian, with a caveat stating "perhaps a coin of Galerius." All four of the original Tetrarchs struck at Serdica during the transitional phase from the first to second Tetrarchy in AD 305-306; since Galerius also adopted the name Maximian, attempting to discern which ruler is named as "Maximianus Augustus" on a coin is problematic at best, particularly since the portraiture at the Serdica mint tended to be even more "generic" than at other mints. However, Maximian's most distinctive facial feature on coinage seems to be a slightly "pug" nose, which is visible on some coins even at Serdica. The nose is straight here, so we opt for Galerius.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1300 USD