This NGC-certified bronze Antoninianus (AE) was struck during the reign of Galerius, who rose from military command to serve first as Caesar and later as Augustus under the Tetrarchic system of the late Roman Empire.
The Antoninianus, originally introduced in the 3rd century, remained an important imperial denomination into the Tetrarchic period. By the time of Galerius, these coins functioned as a core medium of circulation, carrying imperial authority and ideological messaging across the provinces during a time of administrative reform and political tension.
Coin Description:
Obverse: Portrait of Galerius, shown wearing either a radiate crown or laureate wreath, with Latin legends identifying his name and imperial titles
Reverse: Typical Tetrarchic imagery, often depicting Roman deities, personifications of imperial virtues, or military symbolism, emphasizing strength, stability, and divine favor
Technical Details:
Metal: Bronze (AE / aes)
Denomination: Antoninianus
Date: AD 293–311
Certification: Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC)
Condition: As noted on the NGC holder
Historical Significance:
Galerius rose from humble beginnings as a soldier under emperors Aurelian and Probus to become one of the most powerful figures of the Tetrarchy, a system instituted by Diocletian to stabilize the Roman Empire through divided rule. Appointed Caesar in AD 293 and elevated to Augustus in AD 305, Galerius commanded the eastern portions of the empire and led successful military campaigns against the Sassanid Persian Empire.
He is also remembered for his role in the Great Persecution of Christians, the most severe persecution in Roman history. In a dramatic reversal shortly before his death, Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration in AD 311, officially ending the persecutions and laying groundwork for the religious transformations that would follow under Constantine the Great.
This Antoninianus represents a coin of transition—struck at the end of the pagan Roman world, just before Christianity reshaped the empire and its coinage forever.
This NGC-certified bronze Antoninianus (AE) was struck during the reign of Galerius, who rose from military command to serve first as Caesar and later as Augustus under the Tetrarchic system of the late Roman Empire.
The Antoninianus, originally introduced in the 3rd century, remained an important imperial denomination into the Tetrarchic period. By the time of Galerius, these coins functioned as a core medium of circulation, carrying imperial authority and ideological messaging across the provinces during a time of administrative reform and political tension.
Coin Description:
Obverse: Portrait of Galerius, shown wearing either a radiate crown or laureate wreath, with Latin legends identifying his name and imperial titles
Reverse: Typical Tetrarchic imagery, often depicting Roman deities, personifications of imperial virtues, or military symbolism, emphasizing strength, stability, and divine favor
Technical Details:
Metal: Bronze (AE / aes)
Denomination: Antoninianus
Date: AD 293–311
Certification: Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC)
Condition: As noted on the NGC holder
Historical Significance:
Galerius rose from humble beginnings as a soldier under emperors Aurelian and Probus to become one of the most powerful figures of the Tetrarchy, a system instituted by Diocletian to stabilize the Roman Empire through divided rule. Appointed Caesar in AD 293 and elevated to Augustus in AD 305, Galerius commanded the eastern portions of the empire and led successful military campaigns against the Sassanid Persian Empire.
He is also remembered for his role in the Great Persecution of Christians, the most severe persecution in Roman history. In a dramatic reversal shortly before his death, Galerius issued the Edict of Toleration in AD 311, officially ending the persecutions and laying groundwork for the religious transformations that would follow under Constantine the Great.
This Antoninianus represents a coin of transition—struck at the end of the pagan Roman world, just before Christianity reshaped the empire and its coinage forever.
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