Galerius, follis, bronze, reign as Caesar 293–305, minted 303–304

Galerius, follis, bronze, reign as Caesar 293–305, minted 303–304, weight 9.5 g, diameter 28 mm. Obverse: laureate bust of Galerius facing right, legend GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES. Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI surrounding Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae; S (or ς) in left field, B over P in right field, mintmark ALE in exergue. Strike: conventional late-Roman hammered issue with centered devices and full legends. Toning: dark brown patina with lighter copper high points. References: RIC VI Alexandria 37b; comparable examples in Sear Roman Coins IV, 14574. Issued at Alexandria during the reform coinage introduced by Diocletian, this follis reflects Galerius’s status as junior emperor (Caesar) in the Tetrarchy. The GENIO POPVLI ROMANI reverse type promotes the protective spirit of the Roman people, a standard ideological message across all Tetrarchic mints. The inclusion of field marks and the ALE mint signature facilitate accountability and control within the imperial monetary system. Coins of this series circulated widely in Egypt and the eastern provinces, supporting Diocletian’s fiscal and military programs until further reductions in weight and size occurred later in Galerius’s reign as Augustus.