Rated S in RIC. Ex. Dr. J. S. Vogelaar Collection

Unlisted obverse legend -- completely unlisted for any mint or coin, in fact. Closest cataloged form is MAXIMINVS NOBILISSIMVS CAES. Should be expected, however, since for Severus II there is a catalogued legend SEVERVS NOBILISSIMVS C. Ex. Dr. J. S. Vogelaar Collection

Should be officina Γ. Given the I in left field, most likely a alpha mint mark, which would link it with issues of Galerius. This is actually a nice coin with lots of original silvering remaining; the original black patination on the silver makes the photos look crappy, though. (The larger pic looks better...)

rated S in RIC

Rated R2 in RIC

This is the twin to the Severus II coin with Concordia reverse.

rated S in RIC, R in Fail

rated R in RIC, R in Fail

Roman emperors are almost always depicted as either clean-shaven or fully bearded. Maximinus II Daza is an exception to this rule. Early portraits of Maximinus, shortly after his elevation to Caesar, depict him with a mustache of varying length, but with no whiskers on his cheeks or chin. Romans of earlier times viewed the stand-alone mustache as a barbarian facial hair style, but by the early fourth century, the growing number of Germanic recruits in the Roman Army may have spread the style through the ranks. Nevertheless, it never took root among the Roman upper classes, and later depictions of Maximinus show him either clean-shaven or with a proper beard.

Listed as R in RIC.

Rated S in RIC

Rated S in RIC

This is the twin to 104-723 (RIC 35), struck for Galerius as Augustus and Maximinus as Caesar. Galerius must have been in a cranky mood—with Severus dead, Licinius not yet appointed, Maxentius an outlaw, and Constantine out of favor, Maximinus and himself were the only two tetrarchs for whom he bothered to strike coins in this issue. Both are R in RIC.

Rated R in RIC (unlisted for this officina). Plate coin for Failmezgar "Roman Bronze Coins" (Plate 13). ex Tory Failmezgar collection; ex CNG sale 46, lot 1424 (June 24, 1998)

Very well-struck "Genius" on reverse.

listed as S in RIC

"Damnatio" scratch across face. This is a rather evocative relic of the period. Galerius and Maximinus spearheaded the last and most vicious persecution of ancient Christian communities. A silent protest of many Christians was to deface the imperial portrait on their coins.

rated as S in RIC

Rated R3 in RIC. Unpublished for this officina

rated as S in RIC. Coins from Maximinus II with this reverse are common; coins as filius augustorum are reasonably scarce; but coins that combine both this reverse and struck are filius augustorum are scarce indeed.

rated S in RIC.

rated R in RIC

Rated S

This reverse type is only catalogued for Maximinus as Augustus, after the death of Galerius. So the existence of this coin pushes the date for the BONO GENIO PII type to before the death of Galerius, into the Group IV coinage.

From 308-310, the Genius types were divided into Genio Caesaris type for Caesar obverses, and Genio Imperatoris types for the Augusti obverses. The final Maximinus as Caesar legends were issued during this period. For 310 and beyond (once the star control mark is added to the field) only the Genio Imperatoris types are recorded for all of the augusti, and no coins are struck for anyone as caesar.

So this coin represents the only use of Maximinus as Caesar for this series, and the preceding as well. Plus, it pushes this type to before the death of Galerius. The only other explanation is that a mint worker in Alexandria mistakenly used an old obverse die of Maximinus as Caesar; Maximinus presumably would have been none too pleased!

This reverse type only struck in Alexandria 311-312 for a couple of officinae.

Relatively common from other eastern mints, not so from Cyzicus. Listed S in RIC. Well-struck from fresh dies with great detail.

listed as S in RIC

ex Failmezger Collection

amazing silvering

Unlisted in RIC for this officina (only Z listed), but probably to be expected. Rated R for officina Z

rated S in RIC

badly and intentionally scratched in antiquity; most likely a "damnatio" gesture aimed at Maximinus and the Christian persecutions

rated S in RIC. Last Antioch issue, BTW

This is yet another uncatalogued variety struck during the war between Licinius and Maximinus II.

The "SM" in the clearly legible mint mark situates this coin pretty clearly in the series iv follii struck by Licinius at Heraclea, but the other reverse elements and legend are way out of place: the Licinian issues feature the eagle and wreath prominently, commemorating Licinius' 5-year anniversary. The reverse elements and layout, as well as the style (especially the distinctive style of the robe) exactly match the Maximinus issues from Nicomedia (see RIC VI Nic 79), so it seems fair to surmise that this was struck in Heraclea after Maximinus II took control of the mint. RIC lists three coin types struck by Maximinus after taking control of the mint: GENIO AVGVSTI, HERCVLI VICTORI, and SOLI INVICTO [RIC 76-78]. The IOVI CONSERVATORI was the fourth major type struck by Maximinus at Nicomedia, so it would not be surprising to have had it been struck at Heraclea also—evidenced by this coin—so that the set of types from Heraclea matches those struck at Nicomedia at the same time.

minor unlisted variant; RIC description has no crescent in field.

scarcer variety with C[M]H suffix -- value indication, 48/lb ?

obverse legend is misspelled, IMI instead of IMP

plate coin for Failmezgar "Roman Bronze Coins" (Plate 10). ex Tory Failmezgar collection; ex Ed Waddell, 1996

RIC only lists the "dragging captive" variety of this reverse type. This is the same reverse type as RIC 70.

rated S in RIC

I don't think this RIC number is correct, though, someone remind me to correct it.

listed as S in RIC

There's actually a nice coin underneath the green crust, it's just hard to tell. Sigh...