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Alexandria, follis, Galerius, Genius Imperatoris
5.6.2021
..da Ancient & Medieval Coins.
Can anyone help me with an identification of this coin please?
fig. 1
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Rome, 5.6.2021
Dear,
below I report the significant elements regarding the coin shown in the figure:

Follis1, mint of Alexandria, late 308-310 d. C., RIC VI 101a (pag. 678), rarity index "C"

Summary description:
D. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG2. Galerius, laureate head right with divergent ties, pointed truncation
R. GENIO IMP-ERATORIS3, mint mark4. Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae

The search on the web of coins of the type of figure gave rise to the following results:

  1. https://www.ma-shops.com/cdma/item.php?id=865286 Follis 309-310 Alexandria Coin, Galerius, Alexandria, Copper, RIC:101a EF(40-45) 90,00 EUR. Conservazione: EF(40-45) Materiale: rame. Peso: 5.84g. Diametro: 24.00mm. 309-310, Alexandria, EF(40-45), Copper, RIC:101a, IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG,GENIO IMPERATORIS / ALE.
  2. https://nobleromancoins.com/product_info.php?products_id=3144 $45.00 GALERIUS, FOLLIS, GENIO, ALEXANDRIA MINT [RIC 6 101A] Galerius, Follis, Genio, Alexandria Mint Galerius Reduced Follis, Genio reverse, Alexandria Mint. Æ; 23mm/6.3gm, struck ca. 308-310 AD. Con/ VF+; glossy jet black patina with orange sand fill. Obv/ IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; laur. bust right. Rev/ GENIO IMPERATORIS (= The genius of our military commanders); Genius, naked, standing l., wearing modius on head, holding patera (from which liquor flows) and cornucopia. K in l. field, B above P in r. field. Alexandria Mint; ALE in exergue. Ref/ RIC VOL VI 101/a.
  3. https://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/639/230 Lot # 230. Galerius Maximianus (305-311). Alexandria. Follis. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head r. R/ GENIO IMPERATORIS, Genius standing l., holding patera and cornucopia; -Γ/K-P/ALE in exergue. RIC 101a AE 7,30g. EF. Starting price: 50€ Observed by: 1. Number of bids: 6. Lot closed. Sold: 100€.
  4. http://www.coinproject.com/siteimages/125-101239.jpg 101239 Roman Imperial Galerius 293-311 Bronze Follis 308-310 23mm 6.55g 12h. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. Laureate head right. GENIO IMP_ERATORIS. Genius standing facing, head left, holding patera and cornucopiae. Alexandria. RIC 101a- Triskeles Auctions. www.triskeles-auctions.com. 54 USD 27/6/2013. EF. Triskeles Auctions Auction 5: Lot No. 189.
  5. https://rauch-auctions.bidinside.com/it/lot/11903/galerius-305-311-follis-684-g-/ LOTTO 542 - ASTA E-LIVE 33 Galerius (305-311) - Base d'asta: 30,00 EUR. Galerius (305-311) - Follis (6,84g), Alexandria, 5. Offizin, 308-310 n. Chr. Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz / Genius mit Patera und Cornucopiae, Sigle: K (im l. Feld) // E / P (im r. Feld) / ALE (im Abschnitt). RIC VI 101a. f.vzgl.
I conclude observing that the general and style characteristics of the coin in the figure do not differ from those of the coins found on the web. The physical characteristics of the coin are missing and a comparative examination with the authentic coins of the period is not possible. In the present state of conservation, the coin, if authentic, is worth, in my opinion, about forty euros.

Best regards.
Giulio De Florio

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Notes:
(1) According to the RIC, the folles of the period had the following physical characteristics: 7.75 - 5.5g, die axes at 0 or 6 o'clock. I collect in the table below the physical characteristics of the folles of the type of figure taken from the links above:

Reference Weight(g) Diameter(mm) Die Axis
Link1 5.84 24
-
Link2 6.3 23 -
Link3 7.30 -
Link4 6.65 23 12
Link5 6.84 - -
Since there is no information about the physical characteristics of the sample under examination (weight, diameter, coin axis, reaction to the magnet), it will not be possible to carry out a comparative examination with the authentic coins of the period.
(2) IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG (IMPerator Caesar GALerius VALerius MAXIMIANVS Pius Felix AVGustus). On May 1, 305, Diocletian, having reached the twentieth year of power, had withdrawn from public life, as previously established and had demanded the same from Maximianus. With their departure, the two Augusti took on the purely honorary title of "Seniores Augusti, felicissimi et beatissimi". Galerius and Constantius were promoted to Augusti, respectively of the East and of the West. But above all Galerius was the winner. In fact, even if Constantius, as Augustus senior, possessed the supreme legislative power, as had been that of Diocletian before him, it was Galerius who chose, among men certainly loyal to him, the new Caesars in the persons of Flavius Valerius Severus (Caesar of the West) and Valerius Maximinus Daia, his nephew (Caesar of the East). This displeased the Westerners: Maximianus, because he was forced to retire prematurely, his son Maxentius and Constantius's son, Constantinus, because they were cut off from the line of succession. But it was the death, in 306, of Constantius Chlorus, the senior Augustus of the West, to reopen the chapter of the struggles for succession by those aspiring tetrarchs who, despite having a military force that supported them and wanted them Caesars or Augusti, had not been recognized for the role to which they aspired. The situation was further complicated by the execution of Severus decided by Maxentius. Galerius, now Augustus senior, with the Carnuntum conference in the autumn of 308, tried to compromise with the various suitors but the situation had reached the point that, at a given moment, four legitimate Augustus existed in the empire, Galerius, Constantinus, Licinius and Maximinus Daia and an illegal Caesar in Rome, Maxentius.
(3) GENIO IMP-ERATORIS (to the emperor's Genius). RIC reports (page 110) that "The everyday aes of the First Tetrarchy, in contrast to the varying flood of types of the pre-tetrarchic antoniniani, thus kept two over-riding ideas before the ordinary man, civilian or soldier, namely, the singleness of romanitas and the stability of the currency which he chiefly used. After 305, however, and particularly from 307, when the tetrarchic system was under fatal strain, the concept of Genius changed. Genio Populi Romani, by now one among a number of aes types, was used to indicate legitimacy of association among imperial partners; and it was in this sense that the west assigned the type to Herculius after his resumption of power. The new usage was not illogical, for the unity of the empire might be said to depend on the propriety with which its rulers were mutually accepted. There was, moreover, another shift of significance in the east, Genius Populi Romani gave way to the Genius of the rulers themselves, expressed as Augusti, Caesaris or Imperatoris. Rivalry and tension were now emphasizing the personality of the rulers at the expense of unity among the ruled. Use of a Genius type, however, still connoted a wish to recognize legitimacy of association, and thus of succession, within the tetrarchic dynasty; and it is notable that Maxentius' fundamental nonconformity is emphasized by his total avoidance of Genius in any form". The coin in the figure is in a certain way the mirror of that political moment if it is true that the same type of reverse was used by the Alexandria mint to strike coins in the name of the following characters: (4)  is a mint mark, with ALE short for Alexandria in Egypt, with Δ officina's name (4th of 6 active in the period) and with K-P characteristic signs of the issue.
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