Skip to content
Orbis Collectibles

RIC VI Thessalonica 20b

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 298–AD 299

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

AE1 in bronze struck at Thessalonica under Diocletian, AD 298–AD 299, catalogued as RIC VI Thessalonica 20b. Obverse: Head of Galerius, laureate, right. Reverse: Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand. Obverse legend: GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES. Reverse legend: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI or GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI.

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 Heraclea 12b, RIC VI Heraclea 12a, RIC VI Thessalonica 19a, RIC VI Thessalonica 19b, RIC VI Thessalonica 20a.

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

Emperor Diocletian established the Tetrarchy in 293 by appointing junior colleagues with the rank of caesar, placing Galerius under his direct authority in the Eastern Roman Empire. During this period, Galerius campaigned extensively against external threats, scoring major victories over the Carpi in 297 and the Persian Sasanian Empire at Satala in 298. Struck between AD 298 and AD 299 at the Macedonian city of Thessalonica, this coinage was issued under the authority of Diocletian to acknowledge the status of his junior co-ruler Galerius as caesar.

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
AE1

Technical characteristics

Mint
Thessalonica
Issuing authority
Diocletian

Design

Obverse type
Head of Galerius, laureate, right
Reverse type
Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand
Obverse legend
GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES
Reverse legend
GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI or GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI

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.thes.20b
Catalogue reference
RIC VI Thessalonica 20b
Type corpus identifier
ric.6.thes.20b
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 Thessalonica 24b

    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 Heraclea 12b

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

  • RIC VI Heraclea 12a

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

  • RIC VI Thessalonica 19a

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

  • RIC VI Thessalonica 19b

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

  • RIC VI Thessalonica 20a

    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
Can you source one of these? Submit a reference