Galerius          305 - 311 A.D.

 

Galerius started as an ordinary soldier in the armies of Aurelian and then Probus. By the time he served under Diocletian his military career had culminated with the position of Praetorian Prefect. Under Diocletian's new scheme for ruling the empire, he named Galerius as one of the Caesars in the new Tetrarchy and assigned him to the eastern half. With Diocletian abdicating soon after, Galerius automatically became Augustus himself.

The rest of his reign would be taken up fighting the power grabbing of Constantius Chlorus who, against the principles of the Tetrarchy, would start a dynasty in his own bloodline as well as dealing with the increasingly troublesome Maxentius who was now leading a revolt from Rome with the aim of eliminating what was left of the Tetrarchy. He died of natural causes before any conclusions were in store for the stalemate.

 

AE Antoninianus 293--305 A.D.

21 mm.

Obv. GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES: Raidate and draped bust right

Rev. CONCORDIA MILITVM: Galerius receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter

Van Meter 18

AR Argenteus 293--311 A.D.

18 mm.

Obv. MAXIMIANVS CAESAR: Laureate head right

Rev. VIRTVS MILITVM: Tetrarchs Diocletian, Maximianus, Galerius, and Constantius sacrificing before a camp-gate

Van Meter 12, like Seaby 3599A

Roman Imperial Galerius

AE Follis 305-311 A.D.

27 mm. 10.28 gr.

Alexandria, 301 A.D.

Obv. GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES

Laureate head right

Rev. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI

Genius standing left, holding cornucoipia and patera from which liquor flows

XX to left, (Gamma) over I to right

ALE in exergue

RIC 33b

Roman Imperial Galerius

AE Follis 305-311 A.D.

Obv. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG

Laureate bust right

Rev. GENIO IMPERATORIS

Genius standing left, pouring from patera and holding cornucopiae,

X in left field with Delta above K in right field

Van Meter 28a