Galerius Maximianus

Reign

Description

Husband of Diocletian's daughter and co-ruler of Flavius Severus.

CAESAR GALERIVS VALERIVS MAXIMIANVS AVGVSTVS

Minting information

Emperor Galerius Maximianus, a member of the Tetrarchy, ruled the Roman Empire from 305 to 311. On Galerius's coins we can often see the emperor's portrait, in traditional imperial clothes, or with the diadem and labarum, symbols of the pre-Christian Roman Empire. Galerius's coins show the portraits of the other tetrarchs, Diocletian, Maximianus Herculius and Constantius Chlorus. This served to demonstrate the unity and stability of the Tetrarchy. On the coins of the emperor, we often see the army, symbolizing military power. On the coins of Galerius, we can see Christian symbols, such as the cross or the fishing net. This reflected Galerius' gradual commitment to Christianity. Galerius' coins are also significant in terms of quality. The emperor used traditional Roman coinage techniques, but the coinage and decoration were often of a high standard. The emperor's coins are evidence of the unity and stability of the Tetrarchy and Galerius' gradual commitment to Christianity.