GALERIUS AD 305-311

AE Follis. 5.80g, 25.6mm MINTED: Cyzicus mint, AD 309-310 REF: RIC VI Cyzicus 53 OBVERSE: GAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right. REVERSE: GENIO A-VGVSTI, Genius standing left pouring libation from patera and holding cornucopiae; B-* across fields, MKV in exergue.

Notes:  Brown surfaces with areas of earthen deposits. 

Historical Notes: Galerius became emperor of the Roman Empire in 305 as the designated heir of Diocletian. However, under the system of the Tetrarchy, he had to share power with a co-emperor, Constantius I. He attempted to engineer his primacy by having two of his allies appointed to the positon of Caesar, but in doing so, he instead set the stage of the Tetrarchy's eventual collapse as other would-be successors rebelled against the hierarchy he established. He ruled for 6 years, before contracting a horrible bowel disease in 311 that resulted in him literally rotting to death from the inside.