Triton XXI, Lot: 250. Estimate $500. Sold for $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Galerius. As Caesar, AD 293-305. Potin Tetradrachm (20mm, 7.30 g, 12h). Dated RY 4 (AD 295/296). ΓΑΛ ΜΑΞI MIANOC K, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Galerius left, wearing a chin strap, holding a spear over his right shoulder and a shield on his left shoulder; his helmet decorated with a crowning Nike; star over L ∆ (date) to left. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) – (but cf. 6110 – a similar bust right with shield only); K&G – (but. cf. 122.39 – same); Emmett 4221.4 (R5 – citing this coin); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 249 (this coin). Near EF, brown patina with touches of green. Extremely rare, perhaps unique.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions IV, 21 September 1988), lot 357.

In his book, Giovanni has identified the bust on the reverse of this coin as Roma. This cataloguer understands the logic of this identification, but I still prefer my original attribution of the bust to Galerius.

Giovanni also indicates that this coin may possibly be from the Col. James W. Curtis collection, as he cites a similar coin in his book as X-2125. The X before the collection number actually indicates that the coin was not owned by Curtis, and also, Curtis is describing Dattari 6110, with the type facing right, and without a spear.