Bronze Large Follis Emperor Maximinus II (305-313 AD | Last Pharaoh)

The Last Pharaoh Wore a Laurel Wreath

Over 1,700 years old. Struck by hand, passed on by hundreds of hands, at some point lost, buried, forgotten – and today back with us. The Large Follis of Emperor Maximinus II is not a restrike or a commemorative piece, but a genuine Roman coin from the era of the Tetrarchy. Whoever holds it in their hand is holding money that was actually spent in the Roman Empire: in markets, in barracks, in port cities between Asia Minor and Egypt.

Maximinus II Daia – Tetrarch, Augustus and the Last Pharaoh Attested in Hieroglyphs

Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximinus, referred to in numismatics mostly as Maximinus II or Maximinus Daia, did not come from a great family. He rose through the ranks of the Roman army, was adopted by his uncle Galerius, and was elevated to Caesar in May 305. From 311 he ruled the eastern half of the empire as Augustus. In August 313 he died in Tarsus, following his defeat against his rival Licinius.

The truly fascinating part, however, is not found in Roman history, but in Egyptian history: Maximinus Daia is the last Roman emperor to be titled and recorded as Pharaoh in the Egyptian king lists – the last ruler of Egypt attested in hieroglyphs. With him ends a line that stretches back to the predynastic era. Three millennia of pharaonic rule close with the man whose portrait you see before you here. An emperor who at the same time attempted to establish the cult of Serapis as the state religion – the old world resisted once more, one last time.

The Follis: Rome's Answer to Inflation

Around 294, as part of his currency reform, Emperor Diocletian introduced a new denomination intended to counter debasement and inflation: the follis. It became the most important copper coin of the Roman Empire. It was struck at 1/32 of a Roman pound – roughly 10 grams – from bronze with a thin silver coating, the so-called silver wash. The diameter initially measured 27 to 30 millimeters. Incidentally, the ancient name of the coin is not firmly established; numismatists assume it was initially simply called Nummus.

It is precisely this silver wash that creates the visual appeal. On many specimens, the raised areas still shimmer bright and silvery, while dark patina has gathered in the recesses. The name "Follis" (plural: Folles) means "purse" or "bag" and presumably derives from sealed money bags containing a fixed, counted amount of coins. Over the course of the Tetrarchy, the weight and diameter of the folles were reduced several times – the pieces offered here date from this phase.

The Technical Details at a Glance

• Face value: Follis
• Gross weight: approx. 7 g
• Diameter: 20–24 mm
• Material: Bronze or billon (copper alloy, historically with silver wash)
• Year of issue: various, reign 305–313 AD
• Country of origin: Roman Empire
• Investment type: Coin – collector's item
• Condition: circulated coinage, grade varies
• Series: History
• Shipping: as insured shipping

Obverse and Reverse: What You See on the Coin

The obverse shows the emperor in profile facing right, laureate, with short, finely combed hair and a suggestion of a beard. The laurel wreath is worked out with individual leaves and is held at the neck by a ribbon with two flowing ends. Below is a cuirassed and draped bust, a strong neck, and a distinctive chin. The legend on the pictured specimen reads GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES – Galerius Valerius Maximinus, Nobilissimus Caesar.

On the reverse appears the legend GENIO CAESARIS: the Genius, the guardian spirit, standing facing left, holding a sacrificial dish (patera) and a cornucopia. In the exergue is the mint mark ·HTB· for Heraclea, second officina. Other pieces bear different reverse types and mints – for example GENIO AVGVSTI or Jupiter types of the IOVI CONSERVATORI style. This variety is typical of the Tetrarchy and provides an additional appeal for collectors.

Condition: Signs of Use as a Mark of Authenticity

These pieces are circulated currency and carry corresponding traces: darker patina, individual centering, nicks, wear, and in some cases weaker areas of the legend. This is precisely what makes them appealing. Since the year of issue, mint, and reverse variant can vary, the specimen delivered will differ from the image shown – you receive an original, not a mass-produced item. We therefore ask for your understanding that the image in the shop serves as an example and may differ individually from the delivered item in terms of appearance and condition due to historical circumstances.

An ancient coin is not a smooth industrial product. The slightly irregular flan, the weak striking in the field, the small nick on the edge – these are the fingerprints of a workshop that closed its doors for the last time around 1,700 years ago.

Who This Large Follis Is Suited For

• Newcomers to ancient numismatics: a large, clearly legible imperial portrait from the Roman Empire
• Collectors of the Tetrarchy: a fitting companion to Diocletian, Maximianus, Constantius, Galerius, Licinius, and Constantine
• History enthusiasts: a tangible connection to the end of pharaonic rule and to late antiquity
• Friends of genuine tangible assets: an original coin that can be held, turned over, and passed on – independent of any digital ledger system
• Gift givers: a year in which this piece changes hands will be remembered

In Comparison: Follis, Denarius, and Antoninianus

For centuries, the denarius was Rome's silver backbone – small in diameter, and increasingly debased in silver content over time. The antoninianus followed as a double denarius and likewise quickly lost fineness. The follis, by contrast, relies on format: bulkier in flan, more sculptural in portrait, and usually more legible in its legend. Anyone wishing to display an ancient imperial portrait without reaching for a magnifying glass will do excellently with a Large Follis. Silver denominations, on the other hand, score points with their precious metal content. Both paths have their appeal – and most well-developed collections combine them anyway.

History You Can Hold in Your Hand

Gold is humanity's oldest currency and has outlasted every paper currency. Coins like this follis tell the other half of that story: they show what happens when rulers tamper with the weight and content of their money. Diocletian's reform was an attempt to restore lost trust. The follis is the monument to that attempt – and thus far more than a piece of bronze. Secure an original from the reign of the last pharaoh while specimens in appealing circulated condition are still available.