Coins struck by Severus II

At the time of Galerius' promotion to Augustus, the western mints were controlled by Constantius—also promoted to Augustus—and Severus II, who was appointed caesar in the West and took over the mints formerly controlled by the now-retired Maximianus.

104-445

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Ticinum, 306 AD

obv.- IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- FIDES MILITVM; Fides seated left holding two standards; TT in ex

RIC VI Tic 59b; Fail 43

28mm; 9.7g; nummus

204-092

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Aquileia, 305-306

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- FIDES MILITVM AVGG ET CAESS NN; Fides standing left, holding two standards; AQP in ex.

RIC VI Aq 60b; Fail 44

29mm; 9.5g; nummus

Uncleaned, with original hoard patina. Really nice coin under the green encrustations.

104-657

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Aquileia, 305-306

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; helmeted bust left; holding spear and shield

rev.- VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN; Prince with shield, galloping right, spearing kneling foe, second foe prostrate on ground; AQP in ex

RIC VI Aq 66b; Fail 056

28mm; 9.2g; nummus

rated R in RIC, R in Fail

104-867

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Carthage, 305-306

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laur bust right

rev.- SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing, holding fruits in both hands

RIC VI Car 39b; Fail 054

26mm; 9.6g; nummus

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204-119

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Siscia, 305-306

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules naked standing left holding lion's skin and three apples and leaning on club. VI in left field, SISΓ in exergue

RIC VI Sis 165b

28mm; 9.0g; nummus

rated S in RIC

204-259

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Siscia, 305-306

obv.- MAXIMIANVS AVG; Laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Naked Genius standing l. holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left; SIS in ex (but off the flan)

RIC VI Sis 169b

17mm; 2.0g; quarter-nummus

204-181

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Severus II

Siscia, 305-307

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- IOVI CONSERVAT; Jupiter standing facing, head left, holding small Victory on globe; VI in field; SISA in ex

RIC VI Sic 179b

27mm; 10.8g; nummus

 

Coins struck by Constantine

After 306, the western mints were controlled by Constantine, who assumed control over his father Constantius' territories, and by Maxentius, who rebelled against Severus II—and by extension, Galerius. Constantine continued striking coins for Galerius as a gesture of political good will, but the open rebellion of Maxentius precluded any such gesture on his part. Constantine himself stopped striking coins for Galerius after his alliance with Maxentius. As such, no coins were struck in Galerius' name in the West after 307.

204-403

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Treveri, 307

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; laureate cuirassed bust right

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing left, towered, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera in r. hand and cornucopiae in l. one. S-A across fields. Mintmark PTR in ex.

RIC VI Tr 714

27mm; 6.6g; nummus

This is the last issue of coins struck by Constantine for Galerius before his alliance with Maximianus and consequent formal break with the eastern emperors.

204-312

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, left shoulder and loins draped, holding patera and cornucopia, S C in field, PLC in exergue

RIC VI Lug 224/225 [var]

24mm; 6.4g; nummus

For this issue—with the S-C marks in the fields—RIC only catalogs 2 types, one each of Diocletian and Maximianus, as senior augusti. RIC does include a footnote, "Voetter includes a Genio Pop Rom issue for Constantine in this group. I have seen no trace of it anywhere." This coin for Galerius therefore rounds out the issue, demonstrating that this was not a special issue for just the senior augusti, but in fact included all the emperors. Extremely rare; this is not listed in either RIC or in Bastien's "Le monnayage de l’atelier de Lyon", but it is cited in Lyon supp. I 446α1 (this coin) with only one other example cited.

This S-C issue must have been struck immediately after the revolt of Maxentius, accompanying the "unretirement" of Maximianus. As such, this would be the last coin struck for Galerius at any of the western mints (except for some commemorative coins struck by Maxentius after his death). Even after Constantine's recognition of Licinius in 310, when he began striking coins in the name of Licinius, he did not strike any coins for Galerius.

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Coins struck in the East before Carnuntum

An important numismatic divide in the East was the Carnuntum Conference at the end of 308. Following this conference, Licinius was appointed Augustus, taking over the newly reopened Siscia mint.

104-670

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Heraclea, 305-306

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left; HT-epsilon in exergue

RIC VI Her 24b; Fail 46a

29mm; 10.2g; nummus

204-356

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Serdica, 305-306

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; Δ in field; •SM•SD• in ex

RIC VI Ser 12b

28mm; 10.4g; nummus

104-833

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Serdica, 305-306

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG;

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius; Δ in field; •SM•SD• in ex

RIC VI Ser 12b; Fail 046

28mm; 10.35g; nummus

204-160

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Serdica, 307-308

obv.- GAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- VIRTVS EXERCITVS; Mars advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder; * Γ in fields, • SM•SD• in ex

RIC VI Ser 44

27mm; 6.5g; nummus

Relatively common type from other mints, but rare from Serdica. Listed as S in RIC. Soon as I can find one in better condition, I'll buy it...

104-492

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Nicomedia, 307-308

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI CH; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left; SMNA in ex.

RIC VI Nic 51; Fail 191; Sear 3718

25mm; 7.0g; nummus

CMH most likely is a value mark, indicating 48 coins per pound of bronze. Rated R in RIC.

104-723

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Cyzicus, 308

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; l-b-r

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius standing facing, head left, emptying patera

RIC VI Cyz 35; Fail 190h

27mm; 5.3g; nummus

104-742

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Cyzicus, 308

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; l-b-r

rev.- VIRTVS MILITVM; Campgate with 4 turrets, no doors

RIC VI Cyz 39; Fail 214

27mm; 6.4g; nummus

104-792

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Antioch, 308

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Virtus advancing right in military dress, spear in right hand, shield and trophy over left shoulder in left hand ; crescent-A in right field; ANT • in ex

RIC VI Ant 99; Fail 212

24mm; 6.5g; nummus

rated S in RIC

 

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Coins struck in the East after Carnuntum

104-756

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Licinius I

Siscia, 310

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laur bust right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius steht links hält Patera und Füllhorn; crescent|A in field, SIS in ex

RIC VI Sis 207a; Fail 190b

24mm; 6.8g; nummus

204-385

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Nicomedia, 309-311

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI CMH; Genius standing left, holding cornucopia and patera, SMNA in ex

RIC VI Nic 54a/66a

26mm; 6.8g; nummus

104-785

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Galerius

Cyzicus, 308-309

obv.- GAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Mars advancing right, naked but for floating chlamys, spear pointing forward in right hand, trophy over shoulder in left hand; B in left field; MKV in ex

RIC VI Cyz 47; Fail 212

27mm; 7.6g; nummus

204-397

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Antioch, 309-310

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder (falls low), holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; altar in left field; Z in rt field; ANT in ex

RIC VI Ant 119a

24mm; 6.3g; nummus

104-582

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Antioch, 310

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laur b r

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius over altar; ANT in ex; * | B in fields

RIC VI Ant 133a; Fail 197d

24mm; 7.0g; nummus

204-282

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius of the emperor standing left, chlamys over shoulder, modius on head, pouring libation from patera & holding cornucopiae; K-E-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 101a

25mm; 6.6g; nummus

104-983

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- VIRTVS EXERCITVS; Virtus advancing right, holding spear, shield, and trophy, ALE in exergue, K/SP in fields

RIC Vi Ale 111a

24mm; 7.5g; nummus

Listed as S in RIC

 

Post-Carnuntum coinage struck in the West

According to the standard reference works and the accepted patterns of coins struck by Constantine, this coin isn't supposed to exist!

204-401

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Treveri, 310-311

obv.- IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate cuirassed bust right

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing l., modius on head, naked but for chlamys over l. shoulder, Genius standing left, towered head, loins draped, holding patera and cornucopiae; T F across fields, PTR in ex

RIC VI Tr 845 [var]

23mm; 3.8g; nummus

All of the reference material for Constantine indicates that he stopped striking coins in the name of Galerius and Maximinus II in 307 in connection with his new alliance with Maximianus and Maxentius, and ignored the Carnuntum events until 310, when he put down Maximianus and broke with Maxentius. At that time, he began striking coins for Maximinus II and Licinius, but never resumed striking them for Galerius. No coins struck in the name of Galerius are noted in RIC for any time after 307. So this coin would be extraordinary, in that it clearly sits in an issue that was struck no earlier than 310. Unlike many Galerius coins, there is no possibility of confusing this with a coin from Maximianus.

Commemorative coinage struck after his death

Following the death of Galerius in 311, commemorative coins were struck in the East by Licinius and Maximinus II, both of whom owed their positions to Galerius' patronage. Curiously, Maxentius also struck coins in his honor, even though he never struck coins in his name while Galerius was alive. Presumably this was an effort on Maxentius' part to boost the legitimacy of his own position and alliance with Maximinus II following his final break with Constantine in 310. Constantine himself ignored Galerius' death.

104-856

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Galerius commem

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 311

obv.- MAXENTIVS DIVO MAXIMIANO SOCERO; veiled bust facing right

rev.- AETERNAE MEMORIAE; domed tetrastyle temple, elaborate Corinthian columns, eagle perched on roof, lattice work panels on either side, REQ in ex

RIC VI Rom 248; Fail 117

26mm; 6.8g; nummus

rated S in RIC

104-871

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Galerius commem

—struck by Licinius I

Siscia, 311

obv.- DIVO GAL VAL MAXIMIANO; Veiled bust right

rev.- FORTI FORTVNAE; Fortuna standing left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae, wheel at her feet to right; epsilon? in field' SIS in ex

RIC VI Sis 221; Fail 189

24mm; 5.5g; nummus

204-336

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Galerius commem

—struck by Licinius I

Thessalonica, 311

obv.- DIVO MAXIMIANO; veiled bust right

rev.- MEM DIVI MAXIMIANI; Eagle surmounting domed shrine with closed doors; Γ in field; •SM•TS• in ex

RIC VI Thes 48

24mm; 4.5g; nummus

rated R5 in RIC ("Small and extremely rare issue") but that seems a bit overdone. Mint mark unlisted, but mentioned in footnote

104-757

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Galerius commem

—struck by Licinius I

Thessalonica, 311

obv.- DIVO MAXIMIANO; veiled bust right

rev.- MEM DIVI MAXIMIANI; Eagle surmounting domes shrine with closed doors; Γ in field; •SM•TS• in ex

RIC VI Thes 48; Fail 206

25mm; 4.36g; nummus

Mint mark "Γ" is unlisted—only A is listed—but is mentioned in footnote as a possibility. The issue itself is rated R5 in RIC ("Small and extremely rare issue") but that seems a bit overdone.

104-910

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Galerius commem

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 311

obv.- DIVO MAXIMIANO MAXIMINVS AVG FIL; Laureate head right, divergent laurel ties

rev.- AETERMAE MEMORIAE GAL MAXIMIANI; Eagle standing left above garland on horned, lit altar; Crescent / K | G / P across fields ; ALE in exergue

RIC VI Ale 133; Fail 184

25mm; 7g; nummus

The reverse legend AETERNAE is misspelled as AETERMAE

Source

Galerius was born around 250–255 AD in Illyria in a small village near Serdica, in the province of Upper Moesia. His father was a peasant land-worker, and Galerius eventually became known as a armentarius, a herdsman. His mother, Romula, was a pagan priestess from Dacia and reputed to be fanatically anti-Christian. His mother evidently exerted a great influence on him, since he named his great palace complex after her ("Felix Romulania"); she was no doubt a big reason for Galerius' own rabid anti-Christianity. History does not remember Galerius' character kindly; he is reputed to have been violent, uneducated, and crude.

Early career as Caesar

Probably during the reign of Valerian, Galerius joined the Roman army. Not much is known about his military history or record until his appointment on March 1, 293 as Diocletian's caesar. Galerius established his capital at Sirmium and was initially entrusted with command of the Balkan provinces and the Danube frontier. He seems to have immediately begun prosecuting this commission with vigor and some success. In addition, Diocletian seems to have summoned him to Egypt to assist in a campaign in 294.

Upon his appointment as caesar, Galerius put aside his own wife and married Valeria, Diocletian's daughter. In addition, Galerius' daughter (by his first wife), Galeria Maximilla, was married to Maxentius, the son of Maximianus, Diocletian's co-augustus in the West.

In late 295 or 296, Galerius was summoned by Diocletian to the East to repel an invasion by Narses, the Persian emperor. Diocletian himself was engaged in Egypt with the rebellion of Domitius Domitianus, and thus summoned Galerius to deal with the Persian threat. Narses no doubt saw the rebellion by Domitianus as an opportunity to invade the Romans, and quite possible institgated or supported the rebellion himself.

In late 296 or 297, Galerius was soundly defeated by Narses near Carrhae, with a significant loss of territory. Despite the humiliation and Diocletian's displeasure, he remained in command of the Roman forces. After raising a new, stronger army, Galerius launched an offensive through Armenia that was a resounding success. He pursued the campaign deep into Persia, capturing Narses' harem and eventually the Persian capital of Ctesiphon. The Treaty of Nisibis in 298 gave the Romans control of the province of Mespotamia and solidified Roman authority over Armenia, and resulted in almost 30 years of peace along the Persian frontier.

The Persian victory was the signal accomplishment of Galerius' career, and resulted in a tremendous increase in his prestige. On his return to the Balkans, he began construction of an enormous palace and temple complex near his birthplace. (The current ruins—in modern Gamzigrad, in Serbia—are one of the most impressive Roman sites in Europe). He named the complex Felix Romulania after his mother.

Christian persercutions

Diocletian's own religious conservatism, emphasis on imperial unity, and support of traditional Roman gods at the expense of local gods formed a fertile climate for Galerius' anti-Christian sentiment and imperial ambitions. These soon manifested themselves in the great Christian persecutions that began in 302 and were more formalized in a series of edicts in 303 and 304. Although these were issued in Diocletian's name, Galerius is widely seen to have been the motivating force.

• The first edict was published in February 303. It called for the destruction of Christian churches and Christian literature; banned assemblies of Christian worship; and stripped Christians of many legal rights. However—despite Galerius' insistance—it did not call for capital punishment for Christians, although this was a common outcome, particularly in Galerius' lands.
• The second edict was published in summer 303. It called for the imprisonment of all Christian clergy.
• The third edict was publised in November 303 as Diocletian prepared for the vicennalia, the triumphal 20-year anniversary of his reign. It rescinded the proscriptions for all clergy who sacrificed to the Roman gods.
• The fourth edict was published in February 304. It called for public assemblies of all citizens and public displays of sacrifice. All who refused were to be executed. To help enforce this edict, Galerius ordered a general census conducted in 306 so authorities would have accurate records of whom to summon to these assemblies.

Career as Augustus

In 305, following Diocletian's abdication, Galerius succeeded him as Augustus in the East. Galerius successfully engineered the promotion of two of his colleagues as new caesars. This greatly strengthened his power base, since the logical candidates for office were Constantine and Maxentius, the adult sons of the two western rulers (Maxentius was also Galerius' son-in-law). The first new caesar was an army companion of Galerius' who ruled as Severus II. He was sent west to serve as caesar to Constantius, the other newly promoted augustus. The other caesar was Galerius' nephew, who ruled in Syria and Egypt as Maximinus II. (Galerius' other child, an illegitimate son named Candidianus, was betrothed to Maximinus' daughter.)

These maneuvers shortly came back to haunt him, however. Constantius died suddenly in 306, and his son Constantine was immediately acclaimed in his place. Despite his misgivings, Galerius had no choice but to recognize him as caesar, since Constantine now had not only the support of his father's armies, but was himself a formidable, experienced military commander.

Another challenge emerged later in 306 when Maxentius revolted in Rome. His father Maximianus quickly emerged from retirement and supported his son. Unlike Constantine's situation, there was no possibility of accomodating Maxentius. However, Severus II proved a failure at removing him. Following Severus' execution in 307, Galerius himself invaded Italy, but also had to retreat in an embarassing failure.

The year 308 saw renewed political efforts by Galerius to rebuild his prestige and influence. Diocletian agreed to serve with Galerius as consul for 308, and his wife Valeria was formally recognized as augusta. In November of 308 Galerius and Diocletian hosted a conference at Carnuntum to try to resolve the political situation in the west. Constantine—who had begun styling himself as augustus following his marriage to Maximianus' daughter—was "demoted" to caesar, but otherwise legitimized. Maxentius was condemned, and another of Galerius' military colleagues, Licinius, was appointed as augustus in place of Severus.

Galerius' efforts at the conference largely failed. Constantine resented his implicit demotion and continued his cold relationship with Galerius. While there was never actual warfare between the two, Constantine never resumed relations with Galerius or formally recognized his authority. Licinius, even with Galerius' backing, was never able to assert any authority in the west over either Constantine or Maxentius, and "ruled" over only a small territory in Pannonia. Maximinus II, for his part, resented being passed over by Licinius for the office of augustus. In 310 Galerius was forced to recognize both Constantine and Maximinus as augusti and began striking coins to that effect.

Later in 310 Galerius became afflicted with what was, by all accounts, a remarkably repulsive medical condition. Contemporary accounts are quite vivid : apparently it was an ulcer of some sort in his genitalia that became infected with worms, swelled, and developed an unbearable odor that even his doctors could not tolerate. This was interpreted by many as retribution for the Christian persecutions that were still ongoing, and apparently Galerius himself came to believe it. In 311 he issued a new edict formally rescinding the persecutions and restoring Christians to their rights; however, shortly afterwards he died in Serdica.

Unlike previous imperial deaths or abdications, there was no organized succession after Galerius' death or an attempt to name a new caesar. Instead, both Licinius and Maximinus II moved rapidly to improve their positions. Licinius assumed control over Galerius' Balkan territories, while Maximinus took control of the territories in western Asia Minor, with the Bosporus Strait as the boundary. Valeria, Galerius' wife, fled to Maximinus' court and joined Galerius' son Candidianus; however, both were executed by Licinus in 315 after his victory over Maximinus II.