Galerius started as an ordinary soldier in the armies of
Aurelian and then
Probus. By the time he served under
Diocletian his military career had culminated with the position of Praetorian Prefect. Under
Diocletian 's new scheme for ruling the empire, he named
Galerius as one of the Caesars in the new
Tetrarchy and assigned him to the eastern half. With
Diocletian abdicating soon after,
Galerius automatically became
Augustus himself.
The rest of his reign would be taken up fighting the power grabbing of Constantius Chlorus who, against the principles of the
Tetrarchy, would start a dynasty in his own bloodline as well as dealing with the increasingly troublesome
Maxentius who was now leading a revolt from
Rome with the aim of eliminating what was left of the
Tetrarchy. He died of natural causes before any conclusions were in store for the stalemate.
Galerius is one of the few emperors whose name is never actually spelled out on his coins. Instead, he is often confused with
Maximian because they both happened to have the same last name. Rather than being referred to as
Maximian II, which would have been rather confusing seeing that both rulers ' reigns overlapped, modern historians differentiate the two by using one of his other surnames.
Asides from the naming conventions the coins themselves don 't
help much to set them apart since by now the
portraits are those of a generic effigy. In the end, telling the two apart
comes with a certain measure of experience and acquaintance with the coins of both emperors.
In the case of most bronzes, these being the most accessible to collectors, a GAL or
CAES in the
legend coupled with
MAXIMIANVS will be enough to attribute the coin to
Galerius rather than
Maximian. Fortunately, the greater
part of these bronzes do have legends which facilitate this distinction.
As with other coins of the Tetrarchic period a great many were struck for
Galerius. While a few remain in near-mint condition this is
still the age of the thin-coat
silvering which weathered very poorly. A fully
silvered Follis is therefore to be considered a
rarity and will command a significant premium. All other lesser-grade coins of common design themes and denominations should cost only a few dollars.
Busts:
1)
Bare head right
2) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding globe
3) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding
scepter over shoulder
4) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding
scepter over shoulder and
shield 5) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear and
shield 6) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 7) Helmeted,
cuirassed bust left, holding
Victory 8) Helmeted, draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 9) Laureate
bust left, wearing imperial mantle
10) Laureate
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding
scepter with
eagle atop and globe
11) Laureate
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding
scepter with
eagle atop
12) Laureate
bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding
Victory on globe
13) Laureate
bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding
scepter 14) Laureate
head left
15) Laureate
head right
16) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left
17) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding
scepter over shoulder
18) Laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding
scepter over shoulder and
shield 19) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right
20) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding
scepter and
shield 21) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear and
shield 22) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 23) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 24) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
25) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right, holding
scepter over shoulder
26) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right, holding spear and
shield 27) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right, raising hand and holding globe
28) Laureate, draped
bust right, holding spear over shoulder
29) Laureate, draped
bust right, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 30)
Radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
31) Veiled
head right
Obverses:
1) C VAL
MAXIMIANVS CAES 2) C VAL
MAXIMIANVS CAESAR 3) C VAL
MAXIMIANVS NOB C 4)
DIVO GAL VAL MAXIMIANO
5)
DIVO GAL VAL MAXIMIANO AVG
6)
DIVO MAXIMIANO
7)
DIVO MAXIMIANO AVG
8)
DIVO MAXIMIANO
IVN AVG 9)
DIVO MAXIMIANO
MAXIMINVS AVG FIL
10)
DIVO MAXIMIANO SOCERO
MAXENTIVS AVG
11) DN
MAXIMIANVS CAES 12) GAL
MAXIMIANVS AVG VII CONSS
13) GAL
MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
14) GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS CAES 15) GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS N C
16) GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS NOB C 17) GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS NOB
CAES 18) GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C 19) GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
20)
IMP C GAL VAL
MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
21)
IMP C MAXIMIANVS AVG
22)
IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG
23)
IMP C MAXIMIANVS P
FEL AVG 24)
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
25)
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PIVS FEL AVG 26) IMP
MAXENTIVS DIVO MAXIMIANO SOCERO
27) IMP
MAXIMIANVS AVG
28) IMP
MAXIMIANVS IVN AVG 29) IMP
MAXIMIANVS P AVG
30) IMP
MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
31) IMP
MAXIMIANVS PF IN AVG
32)
MAXIMIANVS AVG
33)
MAXIMIANVS AVGVSTVS 34)
MAXIMIANVS C
35)
MAXIMIANVS CAES 36)
MAXIMIANVS CAESAR 37)
MAXIMIANVS N C
38)
MAXIMIANVS N
CAES 39)
MAXIMIANVS NOB C 40)
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAE
41)
MAXIMIANVS NOB
CAES 42)
MAXIMIANVS NOB
CAESAR 43)
MAXIMIANVS NOB CE
44)
MAXIMIANVS NOB CS
45)
MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C 46)
MAXIMIANVS NOBIL
CAES 47)
MAXIMIANVS NOBIL
CAES 48)
MAXIMIANVS NOBIL
CAESAR 49)
MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
Reverses:
1)
AETERNA MEMORIA 2)
AETERNAE MEMORIAE 3)
AETERNAE MEMORIAE GAL MAXIMIANI
4)
AETERNAE MEMORIAE GALERI MAXIMIANI
5)
COMES AVGG 6)
COMITATVS AVGG 7)
CONCORDIA AVGG ET CAESS NN
8)
CONCORDIA AVGG NOSTR
9)
CONCORDIA CAESS NOSTR
10)
CONCORDIA FELIX DD NN 11)
CONCORDIA MILITVM 12) CONCORDIAE
AVGG 13)
CONSER AVGG 14) CONSVL
AVGG NN
15) CONSVL CAESS
16) CONSVL V PP PROCOS
17) CONSVL VI PP PROCOS
18) CONSVL VII PP PROCOS
19) CONSVL
VIII PP PROCOS
20) F ADVENT
AVGG NN
21)
FEL ADVENT AVGG NN 22)
FELICITAS SAECVLI AVGG NN
23)
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN 24)
FIDES MILITVM
25)
FIDES MILITVM
AVGG ET CAESS NN
26)
FORTI FORTVNAE 27)
FORTVNAE REDVCI 28)
FORTVNAE REDVCI AVGG ET CAESS NN
29)
FORTVNAE REDVCI AVGG NN
30)
FORTVNAE REDVCI CAESS NN
31) GENIO
AVGG ET CAESARVM NN
32)
GENIO AVGVSTI 33)
GENIO AVGVSTI CMH
34) GENIO CAESARIS
35)
GENIO IMPERATORIS 36)
GENIO POP ROM 37) GENIO
POPVLI ROM
38)
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI 39) HERCVLI
COMITI AVGG NOSTR
40) HERCVLI
COMITI CAESS NOSTR
41)
HERCVLI VICTORI 42) IOVI
CONS CAES 43) IOVI CONSERVAT
44) IOVI
CONSERVAT AVGG ET CAESS
45) IOVI
CONSERVAT AVGG ET CAESS NN
46)
IOVI CONSERVATORI 47)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG ET CAESS NN
48)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN
49)
IOVI CONSERVATORI NK
50) IOVI ET HERCVLI
CONS CAES 51) IOVIS
CONSERVATOR 52) IOVIS
CONSERVATOR AVGG 53) M SACRA
AVGG ET CAESS NN
54)
MARTI PROPVGNATORI 55)
MARTI VICTORI 56) MEM DIVI MAXIMIANI
57)
MEMORIA FELIX 58)
MONETA AVGG 59)
MONETA AVGG ET CAESS NN
60)
MONETA S
AVGG ET CAESS NN
61)
MONETA SACRA AVGG ET CAESS NN
62)
ORIENS AVGG 63)
ORIENS AVGVSTOR 64)
PIETAS AVGG ET CAESS NN
65)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVT 66) PRINCIPI IVVENTVTI
67)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS 68)
PROVIDENTIA AVGG 69)
S M VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN
70) SAC
M VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN
71) SAC
MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN
72) SACR MONET
AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR
73) SACRA
MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN
74) SACRA MONET
AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR
75) SACRA MONET VRB
AVGG ET CAESS NN
76) SALVIS
AVGG ET CAESS
AVCTA KART 77) SALVIS
AVGG ET CAESS
FEL KART 78)
SALVS AVGG ET CAESS NN
79)
SECVRIT PERPET DD NN 80)
SOLI INVICTAE
81)
SOLI INVICTO 82)
SOLI INVICTO NK
83)
TEMPORVM FELICITAS 84)
VBIQVE VICTORES 85)
VICTORIA AVGG 86)
VICTORIA SARM 87)
VICTORIA SARMAT 88)
VICTORIA SARMATICA 89)
VICTORIAE SARMATICAE 90)
VIRTVS AVGG 91)
VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN 92)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS 93)
VIRTVS ILLVRICI
94)
VIRTVS IOVI CAESARIS 95)
VIRTVS MILITVM 96)
VIRTVTI EXERCITI 97)
VIRTVTI EXERCITVS 98)
VIRTVTI EXERCITVS CMH
99)
VIRTVTI MILITVM 100)
VTILITAS PVBLICA 101) No
legend Types:
1)
Africa standing, facing, holding
standard and tusk;
lion and bull to left.
2)
Altar;
eagle atop
3) City gate (enclosure)
4) City gate with (3) turrets
5) City gate with (4) turrets
6)
Carthage standing, facing, holding fruits in each hand.
7)
Concordia seated left, holding
patera and two
cornucopiae.
8)
Diocletian and
Maximian each riding a horse left and raising a hand, one also holding a
scepter.
9)
Felicitas seated left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia.
10)
Felicitas standing left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia.
11)
Fides seated left, holding
standard in each hand.
12)
Fides standing, facing, holding
standard in each hand.
13)
Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and
cornucopia 14)
Fortuna seated left, holding rudder on globe and
cornucopia.
15)
Fortuna standing left, holding rudder on globe and
cornucopia; wheel to right
16)
Fortuna veiled, crowned
head right
17)
Galerius advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy; seated captive to right.
18)
Galerius and
Constantine I standing, shaking
hands, each holding a
scepter.
19)
Galerius riding horse right, aiming spear; galley above.
20)
Galerius riding horse right, holding spear
21)
Galerius riding horse right, spearing barbarian; another barbarian lying on ground.
22)
Galerius riding horse right, spearing barbarian;
shield under horse
23)
Galerius riding horse right, spearing barbarian; two barbarians lying on ground
24)
Galerius standing left, holding globe and
scepter 25)
Galerius standing left, holding globe and
scepter; two standards to right.
26)
Galerius standing left, raising hand and holding
scepter;
standard on either
side.
27)
Galerius standing rigtht on left, receiving
Victory from
Jupiter to right, holding
scepter 28)
Galerius standing right, holding spear and globe.
29)
Galerius standing, facing, holding spear and globe; captive on either
side.
30)
Galerius standing, facing, holding
standard in each hand.
31)
Genius standing left, holding
patera and
cornucopia 32)
Genius standing left, pouring out
patera and holding
cornucopia.
33)
Genius standing left, sacrificing over
altar and holding
patera 34)
Hercules standing left, holding
Victory on globe and resting hand on club with
lion skin.
35)
Hercules standing right, resting hand on club and holding
apple 36)
Hercules standing right, resting hand on club and holding branch.
37)
Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter 38)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter.
39)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter;
eagle to left.
40)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter;
eagle to left with
wreath in beak.
41)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory and
scepter 42)
Mars standing, facing, holding
Victory and spear
43)
Moneta standing left, holding
scale and
cornucopia 44)
Monetae (3) standing left, each holding a
scale and
cornucopia; coins piled by their feet
45)
Pietas standing, facing, holding baby; child to left.
46)
Salus standing right, holding and feeding snake.
47)
Securitas standing left, leaning on
column, resting hand on
head and cradling
scepter 48) Sol
radiate, draped
bust right
49) Sol standing left, holding globe and whip.
50) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe and whip.
51) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding whip
52) Temple with (2) columns;
Mars within, holding spear and
shield 53) Temple with (4) columns,
eagle atop.
54) Temple with (6) columns,
eagle atop.
55) Temple,
eagle atop.
56) Tetrarchs sacrificing over
altar; city gate behind them.
57) Utilitas standing, facing
58) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding
wreath reading VIC /
AVGG 59)
Virtus advancing right, holding spear and
trophy 60)
Virtus advancing right, holding spear and
trophy with
shield 61)
Wreath, MVL / TIS / X within
62)
Wreath, MVL / TIS / XX within
63)
Wreath, SIC / X / SIC / XX within
64)
Wreath, SIC X / SIC XX /
COS IIII within
65)
Wreath, VOT / IS X / SIC / XX within
66)
Wreath, VOT / X / CAESS within.
67)
Wreath, VOT / X within
68)
Wreath, VOT / X / SIC / XX within.
69)
Wreath, VOT / XX /
AVGG / NN within
70)
Wreath, VOT / XX /
AVGG within
71)
Wreath, VOT / XX / SIC / XXX within
72)
Wreath, VOT / XX within
73)
Wreath, XC /VI within
74)
Wreath,
XCVI within
Mints:
1)
Alexandria 2)
Antioch 3)
Aquileia 4) Cyzicus
5)
Heraclea 6) Karthago
7) Londinium
8)
Lugdunum 9)
Nicomedia 10)
Ostia 11)
Roma 12)
Serdica 13)
Siscia 14)
Thessalonica 15)
Ticinum 16)
Treveri
AU Aureus Reference(s) 1) B15, O30, R041, T35, M12 Exe: W/•SM•SD• RIC 6b (VI,
Serdica)
2) B15, O35, R101, T66
Eagle in
exergue RIC 5b (VI,
Aquileia)
3) B15, O41, R042, T39, M02 Exe: •SMA` RIC 9 (VI,
Antioch)
4) B15, O41, R042, T39, M02 Exe: SMA`* RIC 10 (VI,
Antioch)
5) B15, O49, R043, T40, M13 Exe: SIS RIC 189 (VI,
Siscia)
AR Argenteus 6) B15, O35, R087, T56 Exe: ` RIC 38b (VI,
Roma)
7) B15, O35, R095, T56 Exe: ` RIC 42b (VI,
Roma)
8) B15, O35, R095, T56 RIC 29b (VI,
Roma)
9) B15, O36, R095, T04, M02 Exe: *ANT`* RIC 43b (VI,
Antioch)
10) B15, O36, R095, T56, M05 Exe: H` RIC 4 (VI,
Heraclea)
11) B15, O36, R101, T74, M03 Exe: AQ RIC 17b (VI,
Aquileia)
12) B15, O39, R095, T04, M14 Exe: TS•`• C 223
13) B15, O39, R095, T56, M13 Exe: *SIS RIC 54 (VI, Sisicia)
14) B15, O39, R099, T05 Exe: •SM•`•
15) B15, O49, R095, T05, M16 Exe: `TR RIC 635 (VI,
Treveri)
AE Medallion Reference(s) 16) B24, O16, R058, T44
AE Antoninianus (reduced) 17) B30, O16, R101, T67, M06 Exe: FK RIC 36 (VI,
Carthage)
18) B30, O16, R101, T67, M15 Exe: ` RIC 42b (VI,
Ticinum)
19) B30, O17, R011, T27, M04 Exe: K` RIC 19a (VI,
Heraclea)
20) B30, O17, R011, T27, M05 Exe: H` RIC 16 (VI,
Heraclea)
21) B30, O17, R050, T27 Exe: `/XXI
RIC V 719
AE Follis 22) B15, O09, R003, T02, M01 Exe: ` over K/` over P/ALE RIC 133 (VI,
Alexandria)
23) B15, O13, R032, T32, M04 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 53 (VI, Cyzicus)
24) B15, O13, R032, T32, M04 Exe: `/;/MKV RIC 65 (VI, Cyzicus)
25) B15, O13, R032, T32, M04 Exe: `/MKV RIC 42 (VI, Cyzicus)
26) B15, O13, R032, T32, M12 Exe: */`/•SM•SD• RIC 35 (VI,
Serdica)
27) B15, O13, R035, T32, M04 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 56 (VI, Cyzicus)
28) B15, O13, R035, T32, M04 Exe: `/MKV RIC 44 (VI, Cyzicus)
29) B15, O13, R097, T59, M04 Exe: `/MKV RIC 47 (VI, Cyzicus)
30) B15, O13, R097, T59, M12 Exe: */`/•SM•SD• RIC 44 (VI,
Serdica)
31) B15, O13, R097, T60, M04 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 59 (VI, Cyzicus)
32) B15, O13, R097, T60, M04 Exe: `/;/MKV RIC 72 (VI, Cyzicus)
33) B15, O14, R038, T31 S B across fields
34) B15, O17, R031, T31, M04 Exe: K` RIC 9b (VI, Cyzicus)
35) B15, O17, R038, T31, M12 Exe: `/•SM•SD• RIC 4b (VI,
Serdica)
36) B15, O17, R038, T32, M01 Exe: `/ALE RIC 15b (VI,
Alexandria)
37) B15, O17, R038, T32, M01 Exe: XXI/`/ALE RIC 31b (VI,
Alexandria)
38) B15, O17, R038, T32, M02 Exe: `/ANT• RIC 59b (VI,
Antioch)
39) B15, O17, R038, T32, M02 Exe: K/` over V/ANT RIC 55b (VI,
Antioch)
40) B15, O17, R038, T32, M05 Exe: HT` RIC 18b (VI,
Heraclea)
41) B15, O17, R038, T32, M14 Exe: `/•TS• RIC 26b (VI,
Thessalonica)
42) B15, O17, R038, T32, M14 Exe: `/TS RIC 24b (VI,
Thessalonica)
43) B15, O17, R038, T32, M14 Exe: TS` RIC 20b (VI,
Thessalonica)
44) B15, O17, R038, T32, M14 Exe: TS`• RIC 22b (VI,
Thessalonica)
45) B15, O17, R042, T41, M01 Exe: S/` over P/ALE RIC 43 (VI,
Alexandria)
46) B15, O19, R032, T32, M14 Exe: */`/•SM•TS• RIC 30a (VI,
Thessalonica)
47) B15, O20, R033, T32, M09 Exe: SMN` RIC 54a (VI,
Nicomedia)
48) B15, O20, R035, T32, M01 Exe: K/` over P/ALE RIC 101a (VI,
Alexandria)
49) B15, O20, R035, T32, M02 Exe: ` over C/ANT• RIC 95 (VI,
Antioch)
50) B15, O20, R035, T32, M02 Exe: O over `/ANT RIC 112 (VI,
Antioch)
51) B15, O20, R035, T32, M05 Exe: */HT` RIC 48a (VI,
Heraclea)
52) B15, O20, R035, T32, M05 Exe: `/HT` RIC 53a (VI, Cyzicus)
53) B15, O20, R035, T32, M05 Exe: •HT`• RIC 37a (VI,
Heraclea)
54) B15, O20, R038, T31, M12 Exe: `/•SM•SD• RIC 12b (VI,
Serdica)
55) B15, O20, R038, T32, M04 Exe: */K` RIC 27a (VI, Cyzicus)
56) B15, O20, R038, T32, M04 Exe: K` RIC 20b (VI, Cyzicus)
57) B15, O20, R038, T32, M04 Exe: MK` RIC 36 (VI, Cyzicus)
58) B15, O20, R038, T32, M05 Exe: HT` RIC 24b (VI,
Heraclea)
59) B15, O20, R095, T05, M04 Exe: MK` RIC 39 (VI, Cyzicus)
60) B15, O20, R096, T59, M05 Exe: */HT` RIC 51 (VI,
Heraclea)
61) B15, O24, R024, T11, M15 Exe: `T RIC 59b (VI,
Ticinum)
62) B15, O24, R024, T11, M15 Exe: •/`T RIC 55b (VI,
Ticinum)
63) B15, O30, R025, T11, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 60b (VI,
Aquileia)
64) B15, O30, R032, T31, M13 Exe: `/`/SIS RIC 198a (VI,
Siscia)
65) B15, O41, R038, T31, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 24b (VI,
Aquileia)
66) B15, O41, R038, T31, M11 Exe: R/S/` RIC 73b (VI,
Roma)
67) B15, O41, R038, T31, M13 Exe: `/*SIS RIC 90b (VI,
Siscia)
68) B15, O41, R072, T43, M03 Exe: VI/AQ` RIC 36b (VI,
Aquileia)
69) B15, O41, R072, T43, M13 Exe: */`/SIS RIC 135b (VI,
Siscia)
70) B15, O41, R072, T43, M13 Exe: `/*SIS RIC 133b (VI,
Siscia)
71) B15, O41, R073, T43, M11 Exe: */R` RIC 104b (VI,
Roma)
72) B15, O41, R074, T43, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 32b (VI,
Aquileia)
73) B15, O41, R074, T43, M15 Exe: `T• RIC 46b (VI,
Ticinum)
74) B15, O41, R077, T06, M06 Exe: ` RIC 32b (VI,
Carthago)
75) B16, O41, R038, T33, M08 Exe: */`LG RIC 180b (VI,
Lugdunum)
76) B19, O41, R038, T31 RIC 15 (VI, Londinium)
77) B19, O45, R038, T31, M16 Exe: S/F/`TR RIC 594b (VI,
Treveri)
78) B24, O45, R038, T31, M07 RIC 34 (VI, Londinium)
AE Follis (Posthumous) 79) B31, O04, R026, T15, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 226 (VII,
Siscia)
80) B31, O06, R056, T55, M14 Exe: `/•SM•TS• RIC 48 (VII,
Thessalonica)
81) B31, O26, R002, T54, M11 Exe: RE` RIC 255 (VII,
Rome)
AE Quinarius 82) B13, O39, R091, T21