Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 2 Lot: 451

ROMAN EMPIRE. Maximian (first reign, AD 286-305). 
Ceremonial gold aureus struck at 50 to a pound (6.10 
gm). Antioch, AD 287. IMP C M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS P F 
AVG, laureate bust left, wearing consular robes and 
holding eagle-tipped scepter in right hand, which is 
depicted / IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, emperor standing 
right, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing 
left, SMA in exergue, value mark N (= 50) in left field. 
RIC -. C -. Depeyrot -. Same reverse die as lot 443 
above. Apparently unique and unpublished. Only the third 
known Tetrarchic gold coin to bear the weight mark N = 
"50 to a pound," and the only one of Maximian (see 
commentary on lot 443 above). Virtually mint state 

The date of this small issue of heavy aurei for 
Diocletian and Maximian was probably AD 287. Their early 
style shows they must have been struck before ca. 291, 
when a finer style was introduced and value marks on the 
reverse were discontinued. The consular obverse types 
suggest that the two emperors were consuls together in 
the year the coins were struck, and their only joint 
consulships before 291 were in 287 and 290. However, a 
quite different consular issue for Diocletian and 
Maximian in 290 is already known: it names the consular 
numbers COS IIII or III in the obverse legends and was 
struck at the normal marked standard of 60 (not 50 ) to 
a pound (see Depeyrot, p. 138, 5 and the next lot in 
this sale). By process of elimination, then, AD 287 is 
the probable year of issue of our heavy aurei 
Estimated Value: $ 16,000 

...Sold for $12,500 USD [ approx 9500 EUR, 6625 GBP ] plus 15% buyers fee. 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com) 
and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).