Rare/RIC Unlisted Coin found...

[Mayadigger]

Ave!

This follis coin was discoved in a new small lot of uncleaned to [REMOVED BY ADMIN].

It makes me wonder why so many doubters here on this Forum state that nothing rare or valuable can be found in 'uncleaned coin' lots. This is the coin in question:

Maximianus, Serdica Mint, struck c. 305-306?

Ae Follis, 27mm/9.7gm

Obv/ IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; laur. bust r.

 Rev/ GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius stg. l., wearing modius on head, naked but for chalmys over l. shoulder, r. holding patera (from which liquor flows), l. cornucapiae. .SM.SD. in exergue.

As far as I can read, RIC does not list this issue with the .SM.SD. exergue. The last mention that RIC gives to this issue with the above obverse is RIC 36, with SM.SD. in exergue and an office mark in the r. field. See the photo attached.

I have sent all the above info and pix to Rasiel Suarez and David Sear for their provenance. So far, Ras is stumped and am still awaiting David's reply.

Best to all and keep on hunting!

Kevin

[Tony A]

It's good to know there are still surprises out there!

There are still many, many hoards buried under rocks and parking lots (remember Richard III?) just waiting for that gardener, builder or metal detectorist to uncover. Keep the faith, folks!

Tony

"Always with the negative waves, Moriarty! Always the negative waves!" 

[Genio popvli romani]

I assume that your coin could be RIC.3b (last issue for Maximian for that mint). There is a misprint in RIC that omitted the first dot in exergue, please see Lech corrigenda https://www.forumancientcoins.com/notinric/cv6.html p.492 and coin 4b plate X which shows this dot.
It is probable that the officina letter which should be in  field to right has disappeared or has not been engraved as recorded in note .1 p.492.

Nice coin anyway.

[stlnats]

I assume that your coin could be RIC.3b (last issue for Maximian for that mint). There is a misprint in RIC that omitted the first dot in exergue, please see Lech corrigenda https://www.forumancientcoins.com/notinric/cv6.html p.492 and coin 4b plate X which shows this dot.
It is probable that the officina letter which should be in  field to right has disappeared or has not been engraved as recorded in note .1 p.492.

Nice coin anyway.

Given the acknowledgement of missing workshop marks in the footnote, this seems to be the most reasonable explanation for the coin (ie 3b).  It would be very hard to understand why this coin would be part of the Group II issues (305-6) since the mint was striking "retirement" issues for Max at that point rather than those of an "active" ruler. 

Fun coin nonetheless with an engraver's error and nice pick from an uncleaned lot.

 

[SC]

Often the dots in the Serdica mint marks don't all come through clearly.

This one has a great portrait.  Quiet the jowly Max.

Shawn