GALERIUS, as Caesar AD 293-305

AE Follis. 9.02g, 27mm MINTED: Siscia mint, AD 296 REF: RIC VI Siscia 98b OBVERSE: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, laureate head right. REVERSE: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left pouring libation from patera and holding cornucopiae; *SIS in exergue, A in right field.

Notes:  Well struck and centered. Sharp details and substantial original surface silvering remaining.  

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.