Ancient Rome - AD 305-311 Galerius AR Argenteus NGC AU Ex. Robbins Collection

Coin issued as Caesar. The Obverse reads MAXIMIANVS CAES with laureate bust of bearded Galerius facing right. Reverse reads VIRTVS MILITVM with Tetrarchs at camp gate. The Tetrarchy was the system introduced by Emperor Diocletian in CE 293 to govern Rome by splitting it between two senior emperors, the augusti, and their juniors and designated successors, the caesares. Both sides of this classic work are well-struck and feature rich golden brown toning on both sides. The obverse also has some highlights of green patina.

The altar view of the Rotunda of Galerius, initially a Mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Galerius, later a Christian church, and then a mosque. It is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site and functions as a church at some times each year. It is located outside of the city of Zaječar, Serbia. Photo: Wikimedia.com.

The argenteus (plural argentei, 'of silver') was a silver coin struck by the Roman Empire from the period of Diocletian's coinage reforms of CE 294 until circa CE 310. It was similar in weight and fineness to the denarius of Nero's time. The argenteus was struck at a theoretical weight of 1/96th of a Roman pound (around 3 grams). One gold Aureus was equivalent to 25 Argentei, while one Argenteus equaled 8 Folles.  The word Argenteus, which means "of silver" in Latin, was first used in Pliny's Natural History in the phrase "agenteus nummus" (silver coin).