Lot 4213
Galerius, as Caesar, AD 293-305. Gold Aureus (5.3g) minted at Heraclea, ca. AD 293-295. MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES. Laureate head of Galerius right. Reverse: IOVI CONS CAES. Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter; eagle before at feet; * ends legend; SMHΣ in exergue. Sear 14208; Calicó 4910; RIC 10; Depeyrot 9/5; Cohen 118. Boldly struck in high relief. Lustrous and superb. Nearly Mint State.
Galerius was born near present-day Sofia, Bulgaria. His mother Romula was a pagan priestess from the far side of the Danube and seems to have fueled his lifelong hatred for Chistianity. He found a career in the military and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming Praetorian Prefect under Diocletian, who soon took notice of his leadership skills. On March 1, AD 293, Galerius was made Caesar of the East, reporting directly to Diocletian. Thanks to Galerius and his army, in AD 296 a great deal of the Persian Empire fell under Roman control, winning Galerius a well-deserved triumph. His influence over Diocletian grew steadily from then on. In AD 302 he induced Diocletian to launch the Great Persecution, an all-out effort to crush Christianity root and branch. The effort only served to create more martyrdoms and inspire the faithful. In AD 305, Diocletian abdicated, and Galerius became Augustus of the East. Although technically subordinate to Constantius I in the West, Galerius had already arranged that the new Caesars, Severus II and Maximinus Daza, would be exclusively loyal to him. But the death of Constantius the following year launched a chain reaction of upheaval that threw the Tetrarchic system into chaos, and Galerius spent the rest of his reign desperately trying to restore some semblence of order. In AD 310 he fell victim to a wasting disease that left him horribly disfigured and in constant pain. The Christians claimed it was God's vengeance, and Galerius seems to have at least partly believed it, for he ordered the persecution to be formally ended just five days before he died in May, AD 311.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized $39,100 |
