RIC VI, ALEXANDRIA [after 61], MAXIMINUS, UNLISTED ISSUE [CONCORDIA AVGG]

OBVERSE	MAXIMIN-VSNOBCAES [MAXIMINVS NOB CAES]; head r., laur.
REVERSE	CONCOR-DIAAVGG [CONCORDIA AVGG]; Alexandria stg. l., turreted, r. holding head of Serapis, l. leaning on sceptre. B in left field. ALE in exergue.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED ISSUE. This type of reverse is entirely unknown to RIC. There is, however, a close resemblance between the examined coin, if authentic, and Alexandrian aureus of Severus II [ALEXANDRIA 61] with rev legend CONCORDIA AVG ET CAES (p. 671). General note from p. 653 reads as follows: "The only gold which can with certainty be attributed to this period is a unique aureus of Severus with Concordia Aug et Caes; the singular terminations must surely show Maximinus' readiness at Alexandria to publicize support for Severus in contrast to Galerius and Constantine. The coin is officina-marked, and continues on the standard of c. 5.3 gm." Here we have coin from the same officina, B, and rev. legend ended with ...AVGG which could suggest a conciliatory gesture to the second Augustus. Until now, five specimens are known to the present author and probably all share the same dies because one can notice a striking similarity even in minor details, e.g. "scratch" parallel to upper part of sceptre [click for picture]. Further investigations are urgently needed. Coin should be listed after ALEXANDRIA 61. See also: ALEXANDRIA [after 61], GALERIUS MAXIMIAN, UNLISTED ISSUE [CONCORDIA AVGG]

NOTES

Argenteus. Weight 3.26 g. Coin sold on Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung aution in March 2008 for $9,458. Other specimens: - specimen offered on Helios Numismatik auction in April 2008 for EUR 5,000; weight 3.26 g [click for picture]; - specimen offered on Freeman & Sear Fixed Price List 13, Winter 2008 (lot 72, p. 33) offered for $14,000; sold on Nomos auction in May 2011 for CHF 12,000; weight 3.16 g [click for picture]; - specimen offered on eBay in May 2008 for $7,333; than, sold on eBay in October 2008 as private listing for $799.50; note that this is almost certainly a modern fake cast from genuine specimen; weight 3.25 g [click for picture]; - specimen sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction in October 2009 for CHF 12,000; weight 3.28 g [click for picture].