Lugdunum mint and revolt of Maxentius

The years following the revolt of Maxentius resulted in a confusing series of issues from Lugdunum. RIC catalogs no fewer than 6 different series of mint markings that are attributed to 307 alone! At the beginning of 307, the mint was still striking the PLC-marked coins with the altar in left field and* in right field that it had been striking when Constantius died. Constantine continued this issue and struck coins in the name of Severus II as augustus. Parallel to this issue were the "retirement" coins struck to honor the retired Diocletian and Maximianus, which had T F in the fields.

104-974

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Constantius I augustus

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 305-306

obv.- IMP CONSTANTIVS AVG; laureate, cuirassed bust left

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, holding patera over altar to left, cornucopia in right, * to right, PLC in exergue

RIC VI Lug 187a

29mm; 10.6g; nummus

104-767

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Severus II caesar

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 305-306

obv.- FL VAL SEVERVS NOB C; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera (from which liquor flows) above altar, left cornucopiae. * in field, PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 193; Fail 046a

28mm; 12.75g; nummus

Rated S in RIC

204-008

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Maximinus II caesar

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 305-307

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C; laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of Maximinus right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius, towered, loins draped, stg left holding cornucopia and patera over alter; * in field; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 194a

29mm; 11.9g; nummus

rated S in RIC

204-010

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Maximianus sr aug

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 305-306

obv.- D N MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG; laureate bust right in imperial mantle & holding branch & mappa

rev.- PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG; Providence standing right, extending hand to Quies, standing left, holding branch; T F in field; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 201

28mm; 10.8g; nummus

Rated S in RIC

204-070

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Constantius I commem

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 306

obv.- DIVO CONSTANTIO AVG; laureate head right

rev.- CONSECRATIO; eagle standing right, head left; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 202

28mm; 11.6g; nummus

At some point in 307 both of these series were replaced by a new PLC series that had an N in the field. The key difference is that this new issue reflects the fact that Maximianus "unretired" following the revolt of his son, Maxentius : coins struck in the name of Maximianus now have the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI reverse type of an active emperor, while coins struck for Diocletian have a different "retirement" motif. No coins are included for Severus II, indicating that by the time these coins were struck, not only had Maxentius revolted, but Severus' campaign against him had already ended in failure.

Throughout this issue, coins continued to be struck in the names of the eastern rulers, Galerius and Maximinus; no coins were struck for Maxentius; and the legend used for Maximianus continued to use his "senior" titles : DN (domine nostrorum, or "our lord") instead of IMP (imperator), and S AVG (senior augustus). However, at some point during this issue, coins struck in Constantine's name switch from the title of caesar to that of augustus.

204-294

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Maximianus sr aug

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- D N MAXIMIANO P F S AVG; laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right

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

RIC VI Lug 207

26mm; 7.9g; nummus

This is the first issue that recognizes Maximianus as an active augustus following his post-abdication bid to reclaim power. Even though the legend uses the Senior Augustus title (with the D N "Dominum Nostrorum" honorific instead of IMP "Imperator"), the reverse is the traditional Genius type instead of the retirement motif. From this issue and going forward at Lugdunum, the traditional retirement reverse types were struck in the name of Diocletian only. Rated S in RIC.

104-591

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Constantine I caesar

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTINVS N C; laureate / draped bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius holding patera over alter, loins draped; N in field; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 214b; Fail 72

27mm; 6.9g; nummus

struck in spring 307. Rated S in RIC

104-934

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Maximianus sr aug

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- D N MAXIMIANO P F S AVG; laureate, cuirassed bust right

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing left, wearing turreted crown, left shoulder and loins draped, holding patera and cornucopia, S—C in fields, PLC in exergue

RIC VI Lug 224 [var]

25mm; 6.9g; nummus

RIC records version with Genius wearing modius; this is quite clearly a turret. No turreted Genius types are officially recorded in the vicinity of this one, but one is described in a footnote of the previous issue, struck for Constantine. Listed as R for the normal 224.

This is part of an interesting issue struck at Lugdunum when Maximianus was left in control of the city by Constantine after emerging from retirement. It follows up the previous issue represented above by RIC 207, struck when Constantine was resident.

The typical coins with the "abdication" motif—that were typically struck for both augusti—had two figures on the reverse, representing Providentia and Quiess, and the former emperor in consular robes on the obverse—emphasizing civilian, not military authority. For this issue, Maximianus struck a retirement nummus in Diocletian's name only, with only a single figure on the reverse. For himself, he struck coins in the style of the other active emperors: "Genio Populi Romani" on the reverse, and the armored bust of an active military leader on the obverse. To reinforce the claim to legitimacy, he added the classic S-C ("Senatus Consultus") on the reverse to give the impression of Senatorial sanction and echoing the motto typically found on Roman coins from the great days of the empire.

104-782

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Diocletian sr aug

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- D N DIOCLETIANO P F S AVG; Consular bust right

rev.- QVIES - AVGG; Quies draped stg left, holding a branch in right hand and sceptre in the left hand; S|C in fields, PLG in ex

RIC VI Lug 225; Fail 097; Bastien 444

25mm; 6.4g; nummus

From Daniel Compas collection. Prov. MONNAIES XVI, 31 décembre 2002, n 676. Same dies as the specimen of the Cabinet of the medals of the Museum of History and Art of Lausanne, Bastien n 444a, pl. XLIX. It is the fourth listed specimen. Will take the number 444c in Supplement III of Bastien. This issue (emission 17), dated by Bastien to November-December 307, includes only small diameter and/or light weight nummi which are not otherwise attached to a normal issue. For this issue as a whole, we have 95 nummi in the corpus of Dr. Bastien in 1980, including only three nummi for Dioclétien with consular bust.

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.

204-021

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Constantine I caesar

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NC; laureate, cuirassed bust right

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius stg left, modius on head, holding patera and cornucopia; N in field, PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 235

25mm; 5.5g; nummus

listed as R in RIC

204-350

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

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

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius stg left, modius on head, loins draped, right hand holding patera, altar to left; N in field; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 238

25mm; 6.8g; nummus

First issue from Constantine as augustus. Rated S in RIC.

204-349

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307

obv.- IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; cuirassed bust right

rev.- PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; emperor standing facing, in military dress, laureate head left, vexillum in each hand; N in field; PLG in ex

RIC VI Lug 244 [var]

26mm; 5.7g; nummus

From first issue from Constantine as augustus. This type only catalogued with laureate draped cuirassed bust (244), and not with cuirassed-only bust. #244 is rated S in RIC.

By the end of 307, this issue had been replaced by a new series of PLC-marked coins with no field markings. While the "N" series indicated an equivocal posture towards the eastern rulers, striking coins in their names in a seemingly routine manner even though actual relations were quite hostile, this next series was much more aggressive. Maximianus resumed the IMP titlature of an active augustus; coins were struck in the name of Maxentius; a large variety of new reverse types was introduced; and, strikingly, Galerius was now titled IVN AVG ("junior augustus") on his coins. It seems likely that at this time, Maximianus himself was directing the mint, not Constantine.

204-162

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307-308

obv.- IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate draped bust right, seen from rear

rev.- CONSTANTINO P AVG B R P NAT; Constantine stg facing, head l., in military dress, r. holding globe, l. leaning on sceptre; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 252

28mm; 5.9g; nummus

Rated R in RIC. The reverse legend CONSTANTINO P AVG B(ono) R(ei) P(ublicae) NAT(o), means "To Constantine, prince, Emperor, born for the welfare of the state." This likely commemorates Constantine's birthday on 27 February 308. Constantine would have 27 or 28 for this birthday.

204-296

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Diocletian sr aug

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 308

obv.- D N DIOCLETIANO AETER AVG; laureate bust right, wearing trabea and holding olive branch and mappa

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; PLG in ex

RIC VI Lug 258; Lyon 466

27mm; 7.2g; nummus

Extremely rare (R2 in RIC) — only the Montbouy hoard coin cited by both RIC and Lyon. Ex White Mountain Collection

104-765

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Maximianus sr aug

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307-308

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

rev.- MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI; Mars, naked, advancing right, holding spear in right hand, shield in left, cloak flying behind, PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 260 [var]; Fail 083; Bastien XI 480

28mm; 6.5g; nummus

This reverse type is only used by Constantine himself, except for a single rare issue for Maximinus II. That said, the existence of the Maximinus issue would imply a corresponding issue for Maximianus in the same series, which would be this coin.

204-316

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307-308

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

rev.- MARTI PATRI CONSERVATORI; Mars standing right, holding spear pointing down and leaning on shield; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 260 [var]

27mm; 7.6g; nummus

This reverse type is completely uncatalogued for this issue, although it ought to be expected since it is present in both the "N" and CI-HS issues that bracket this PLC issue in RIC. In both of those other issues, it is present as part of a set with the other Mars reverse types that are also present in this issue.

204-314

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307-308

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

rev.- MARTI PATR SEMP VICTORI; Mars standing right, head left, holding transverse spear and trophy over shoulder; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 263 [var]

25mm; 6.3g; nummus

For Constantine, this is only catalogued for laureate/cuirassed bust, seen from rear; not listed for an ordinary cuirassed bust, seen from front. Catalogued by Bastien as note to Lyon 502 — this specific coin, cited and illustrated. Extremely rare, and the only example cited in Lyon.

204-205

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Constantius I commem

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307-308

obv.- DIVO CONSTANTIO PIO; Laureate, veiled, cuirassed bust right

rev.- MEMORIA FELIX; Altar of cippus form, lighted and garlanded; eagle standing to either side; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 268

26mm; 7.1g; nummus

204-161

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 307-308

obv.- IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate draped bust right, seen from rear

rev.- SECVRIT PERPET DD NN; Securitas stg. l., leaning l., with transverse sceptre on column, r. raised to head; PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 278

27mm; 6.3g; nummus

Rated S in RIC, but I suspect it's a bit rarer than that…

104-761

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 308

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

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius holding patera over altar; CI - HS in fields, PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 287; Fail 073

27mm; 6.2g; 308-309

A historical bronze dating to marriage of Constantine to Fausta. The CI in the left field stands for Constantine Imperator and declares his new title along with his new father in law. The horizontal HS stands for Heraclius Senior giving honor to his new father in law. The coin is a clear commemoration of Constantines new position in the tetrarchy and his new wife and her family. Rated S in RIC

104-970

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Maximianus sr aug

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 308-309

obv.- IMP C VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate, cuirassed bust right, parallel laurel ties

rev.- GENIO POP ROM; Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, loins draped, patera in right hand over lighted altar, cornucopiae in left ; C-I | H / S across fields ; PLC in exergue

RIC VI Lug 288

26mm; 6.3g; nummus

204-348

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 308-309

obv.- IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate draped bust right (seen from rear)

rev.- PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; emperor standing facing, in military dress, laureate head left, vexillum in each hand; C I H S across fields; PLG in ex

RIC VI Lug 299

27mm; 6.1g; nummus

Rated S in RIC

Lugdunum mint following the final demise of Maximianus

Sol, Sol, and more Sol

204-120

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 309-310

obv.- IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate bust right, cuirassed, draped, seen from rear

rev.- SOLI INVIC-TO COMITI; Sol radiate, stg. l., chlamys draped over l. shoulder, r. raised, l. holding up globe. F-T in fields, PLC in ex

RIC VI Lug 310

24mm; 4.2g; nummus

I love the figure of Sol on the reverse; click here for extra close-up view.

104-816

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 314-315

obv.- IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG;

rev.- MARTI CONSERVATORI; T|F in field; PLG in ex

RIC VII Lug 12; Fail 204

20mm; 3.9g; nummus

204-139

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Lugdunum, 321

obv.- CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate cuirassed bust right

rev.- VIRTVS EXERCIT; Vexillum with banner inscribed VOT / XX between two captives seated on ground C | R across fields; PLG in ex

RIC VII Lug 115

20mm; 3.9g; nummus

The coins ascribed to Lugdunum traditionally include a number of coins with no mintmark on the reverse, that stylistically are separate from the London mint coins that do not have a mintmark. These coins are thought to have been struck in preparation for Constantius' invasion of Britain in 296, and thus predate the unmarked coins known to have been struck in London. Recent scholarship assigns these coins to a mint in northern Gaul that was set up expressly to strike coins before the invasion, perhaps staffed by workers transferred from the Lugdunum mint (on account of the stylistic similarity). It is thought that this mint was located in Bononia (modern Boulougne), the important port conquered by COnstantius and likely used as the staging area for the invasion.

204-028

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 295-296

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

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius, stg.l., holding patera in r.hand, cornucopiae in l.

RIC VI Lug 14b

29mm; 10.3g; nummus

204-326

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 295-296

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

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius, stg.l., holding patera in r.hand, cornucopiae in l.

RIC VI Lug 14b

27mm; 8.4g; nummus

204-084

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Constantius I caesar

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 295-296

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing with patera and cornucopiae, modius on head; no mint marks

RIC VI Lug 17a

26mm; 13.2g; nummus

104-902

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Galerius caesar

—struck by Constantius I

Lugdunum, 296

obv.- C Val MAXIMIANVS NOB C; laur bust r

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; no mintmark

RIC VI Lug 17b

28mm; 11.5g; nummus

listed as S in RIC. Class I high relief bust

During much of the first and second centuries, Lugdunum was one of the most important cities in the empire. The mint at Lugdunum dates from 19 BC and for much of this time was the most important imperial mint besodes Rome itself.

By the time of Diocletian, the city's importance had declined, eclipsed in military significance by other cities more directly located on the German frontier such as Treveri, but was still an important enough administrative center to justify an imperial mint in Diocletian's decentralized administration. Under Constantius, workers from the mint issued the coinage preparatory to his invasion of Britain, perhaps striking the coins at Bononia (see neighboring tab).

Under Constantius' control, the mint struck the same standard Genio Populi Romani coins as the other mints, but quickly developed its own distinctive style; after about 301 or so, the portraits have a much more angular, geometric style than the other western mints, resembling more the eastern style. Interestingly, this stylistic transition happened at the same time as the neighboring mints in Treveri and Ticinum transitioned to the Moneta reverse, which was never adapted at Lugdunum. Lugdunum coins were also distinctive for the altar on the reverse, and, like the Treveri mint, used an unusually diverse set of bust types.

The Lugdunum mint was fully part of Constantine's sphere of control as he began his rise to power, although clearly subordinate to Treveri. Portraits of Constantine are stylistically similar to those from his other main mints in London and Treveri. Following the revolt of Maxentius and throughout the tumultuous years of 307–310, the mint struck a large number of distinctive reverse types and special issues, reflecting not only the evolving political programme of Constantine, but the probably active involvement (or meddling) of the unretired Maximianus. It eventually closed in 310 (following the final, abortive revolt of Maximianus), not to reopen until 313 after Constantine's victory over Maxentius.

The mint continued to operate somewhat sporadically during the latter part of Constantine's reign, as the empire's center of gravity continued to shift eastward; it was closed from 316–319 or 320, and again from 325–330.