Follis of Constantius I as Caesar, bronze, struck at the Antioch mint, 302-303

Follis of Constantius I as Caesar, bronze, struck at the Antioch mint, 302-303 CE; weight c. 10.00 g, diameter 28 mm. Obverse legend FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES shows Constantius's laureate head right. Reverse legend GENIO POPVLI ROMANI depicts Genius standing left, holding patera over altar and cornucopiae, with A in right field; exergue bears the mint mark ANT. The piece is from the Tetrarchic reformed series, struck on a broad, smooth flan with centered dies; typical surviving examples exhibit dark brown to black patination with lighter highlights on relief. Reference: RIC VI Antioch 57a; die axis generally 6 h.

Struck during the currency reform of Diocletian's Tetrarchy, the coin aimed to stabilise the economy by introducing a substantive bronze denomination with minimal silver coating. The Genius reverse proclaimed the welfare of the Roman people, reinforcing loyalty to the new imperial college. Antioch's output supported civil administration and frontier armies, making these folles common in eastern provincial circulation.