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Orbis Collectibles

RIC VI Serdica 1b

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 303–AD 305

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Uncertain value in silver struck at Serdica under Diocletian, AD 303–AD 305, catalogued as RIC VI Serdica 1b. Obverse: Head of Maximian, laureate, right. Reverse: Three-turreted gateway, open, no doors. Obverse legend: MAXIMIANVS AVG. Reverse legend: VIRTVS - MILITVM.

Related types with the same reverse, struck at other mints or with different marks or bust details, are consolidated here and listed under varieties: RIC VI Thessalonica 15a, RIC VI Thessalonica 15b.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
6
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

Diocletian ruled as Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He initiated the Tetrarchy, appointing Maximian as co-emperor with the rank of Augustus in 286 to oversee the Western Empire while Diocletian governed the east. Maximian retained this position until he also abdicated on 1 May 305. This silver issue was produced between AD 303 and AD 305 at the mint of Serdica, an ancient Roman city located at modern Sofia.

Physical characteristics

Material
Silver
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Uncertain value

Technical characteristics

Mint
Serdica
Issuing authority
Diocletian

Design

Obverse type
Head of Maximian, laureate, right
Reverse type
Three-turreted gateway, open, no doors
Obverse legend
MAXIMIANVS AVG
Reverse legend
VIRTVS - MILITVM

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. 1 near-identical catalogue variant is consolidated into this entry.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.6.serd.1b
Catalogue reference
RIC VI Serdica 1b
Type corpus identifier
ric.6.serd.1b
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

Varieties

  • RIC VI Serdica 11b

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

  • RIC VI Thessalonica 15a

    Same ruler, denomination, reverse type and reverse legend; differs in mint, mint mark, officina or bust detail. Consolidated into this entry.

  • RIC VI Thessalonica 15b

    Same ruler, denomination, reverse type and reverse legend; differs in mint, mint mark, officina or bust detail. Consolidated into this entry.

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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