MAXIMIANUS
AD 286-305
AE Follis. 9.60g, 28mm
MINTED: Lugdunum mint, AD 301-303
REF: RIC VI Lyons 113b
OBVERSE: IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left.
REVERSE: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera over altar and cornucopia; B in right field, PLG in exergue.
 
Provenance:
Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection
Elvira Eliza Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001) was born in Romania.  During World War II, she and her husband Vladimir were sent by the Gestapo to Buchenwald concentration camp. They survived their 3-year imprisonment and when the war was over, moved to Italy, where they worked in the numismatic trade. In 1951, they moved to the United States, where their knowledge and passion for numismatics led to them becoming curators of National Numismatics Collection at the Smithsonian. Together, they were also authors of numerous important reference works and curated an excellent personal collection of coins.

Notes: 
A fair amount of original surface silvering still remaining.  Strong details, partially obscured by areas of hard green malachite hoard deposits.  
 
Historical Notes: 
Maximianus, also known as Maximian or Maximianus Herculius, was an acclaimed Roman general who was made co-emperor by his close friend and ally Diocletian when the latter ascended to the throne. When Diocletian decided to retire in 305 after 21 years of rule, he enjoined Maximianus to do the same so that their respective Caesars, Galerius and Constantius I, could take their places and rule the empire. Maximianus was reluctant to abdicate, and in 306, urged on by his son, Maxentius to join his revolt against the legitimate emperors, Maximianus took the purple for the second time. He was forced to retire again in 308, but in 310, he declared himself Augustus in rebellion against Constantine I. His third reign lasted mere months, and when captured by Constantine, he was forced to commit suicide.