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Orbis Collectibles

RIC VI Nicomedia 2

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 294

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Aureus in gold struck at Nicomedia under Diocletian, AD 294, catalogued as RIC VI Nicomedia 2. Obverse: Head of Maximian, laureate, right. Reverse: Hercules, standing left, holding apples and lion's skin in right hand and leaning on club with left hand.

Obverse legend: MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. Reverse legend: HERCVLI - VICTORI.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

In 286, Diocletian appointed his fellow officer Maximian as co-emperor with the rank of Augustus, establishing Maximian in the Western Roman Empire while Diocletian governed the east from his chosen capital of Nicomedia. This arrangement developed into the Tetrarchy in 293, dividing imperial administration among four rulers. This aureus—the principal Roman gold denomination prior to its replacement by the solidus in the early 4th century—was struck at Nicomedia in AD 294 under Diocletian, depicting his imperial colleague Maximian.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Aureus

Technical characteristics

Mint
Nicomedia
Issuing authority
Diocletian

Design

Obverse type
Head of Maximian, laureate, right
Reverse type
Hercules, standing left, holding apples and lion's skin in right hand and leaning on club with left hand
Obverse legend
MAXIMIANVS P F AVG
Reverse legend
HERCVLI - VICTORI

Identification

How to identify
RIC separates types by mint and officina marks, obverse legend and bust form, and reverse legend and type; check the exergue and field marks against the RIC number before accepting a match.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.6.nic.2
Catalogue reference
RIC VI Nicomedia 2
Type corpus identifier
ric.6.nic.2
Source note
The type record is Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), the American Numismatic Society's digital edition of Roman Imperial Coinage.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Nominal weight not transcribed from a primary reference
  • Diameter and die axis not transcribed
  • Mint mark and officina detail not transcribed
  • No rights-cleared photograph identified yet
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