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Identification and Creation

Object Number
2005.115.294
People
Galerius, Roman (r. 305 - 311 CE)
Constantius I Chlorus, Roman (r. 293-306)
Title
Follis of Galerius, Aquileia
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
305-306
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Aquileia (North Italy)
Period
Roman Imperial period, Late
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/21031

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Bronze
Metal
AE
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
9.24 g
Die Axis
12
Denomination
follis
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG
  • Reverse Inscription: FIDES MILITVM AVGG ET CAESS NN

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Collection of Margarete Bieber

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
RIC VI, 60b, p. 319

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Celia and Walter Gilbert, Claude-Claire Grenier, and the Marian H. Phinney Fund
Accession Year
2005
Object Number
2005.115.294
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obverse: Head of Galerius, laureate, right
Reverse: Fides, draped, standing front, head left, holding standard in each hand
Commentary
By the end of the 3rd century CE, the Roman Empire had expanded to the point of being ungovernable and was in crisis. The emperor Diocletian (284 - 305 CE) in 293 CE established the Tetrarchy: a new system dividing the administration of East and West, with two senior emperors, the Augusti, and two junior emperors, the Caesares.

When this coin was minted, Constantius Chlorus was the Augustus in the western empire and Galerius (Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus) was Augustus in the eastern empire. Much official imperial iconography during the Tetrarchy sought to present the emperors as united, after a century of civil war. Coins issued by one co-emperor depicting his colleague helped project an image of unity and stability. The similarity of their portraits also contributed to this message: the emperors’ images are difficult to distinguish from each other, presenting a unified image of imperial rule.

This is one such coin. It depicts a portrait of Galerius, identifiable from his titles listed in the inscription. It, however, was minted in Italy, in the western part of the empire, and thus was issued under the authority of his co-Augustus, Constantius Chlorus.

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu