Billon Follis of Galerius RIC 101a

 Billon Follis (23.2mm, 6.85g) Struck 308-10 A.D. Alexandria

Obv: IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Laureate head right

Rev: GENIO IMPERATORIS Genius, patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left. K in left field, S over P in right field ALE in exergue

RIC VI 101a, Sear 14524

ex. Victor's Imperial Coins, ex. Pegasi (2/3/2011), ex. Baldwins Auction (42) 9/26/2005. ex William C. Boyd (1840-1906)

The Front (Obverse): Meet the Emperor

The front features a portrait of the emperor wearing a laurel wreath, looking very serious and tough. Around his head, the Latin inscription reads:

This is a long string of political titles meant to show power. If we translate it out of ancient "text-speak," it stands for:

• IMP C: Imperator Caesar (The ultimate military commander and ruler).
• GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS: Galerius Valerius Maximianus (This was his official imperial name. It can be confusing because there was another emperor named Maximian at the time, but this one belongs to Galerius).
• P F: Pius Felix (Pious and Dutiful / Lucky and Blessed).
• AVG: Augustus (The highest title for a senior emperor).

The Back (Reverse): The Spirit of the Empire

Flip the coin over, and you see a standing figure. This is Genius, a divine spirit who protects a specific place, person, or group. The words around him say:

This translates to "To the Genius of the Emperor." It’s a way of saying, "May the divine spirit that guides and protects our leader keep the whole empire safe and wealthy."

Look closely at what Genius is holding—it’s pure symbolism:

• Right Hand: He's holding a patera (a shallow sacrificial bowl). This tells the public, "The emperor is religious and keeping the gods happy."
• Left Hand: He's cradling a cornucopiae (a horn of plenty overflowing with fruit). This promises the public, "The emperor will bring you wealth, food, and good times."

The Secret Code Letters

Ancient mints used a clever system of letters to track exactly who made each coin. Your coin has a few of these hidden keys:

• K (left side) and S / P (right side): These are internal mint marks and series markers used by the coin workshop to track production cycles or metal quality.
• ALE (at the very bottom, called the exergue): This is short for Alexandria. It’s the factory stamp proving this coin was minted in Egypt!