Ave!

Maximian Hercules, Fraction, Genius Reverse, Exceptional Patina!

Æ Fraction; 18mm/2.1gm   Struck c. 305 AD

Con/ Very Fine; near-perfect centering, sharp strikes on both sides with fresh dies. bold portrait of the emperor and complete legends, all in sharp details...blah, blah, blah... *Read below!

Obv/ IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; laur. bust r.

Rev/ GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius stg. l., wearing modius on head, naked but for chlamys over right shoulder; holding patera in right hand and long cornucopia in left hand.

Ref/ RIC Vol VI 146 = Rare 2!

Seller's Note/ This drop-dead beautiful coin has the most rare patina of them all; ox-blood, also known as the temptress color. What occurs to copper alloy to oxidize to this remarkable patina is beyond my knowledge, but I can tell you all that it's extremely rare. Less than one in a thousand have this patina, and of those that do, nearly all are messed on one side or the other...deeps pits, etc.. So, what makes this issue..one in five thousand or more?

This little LRBC fraction, small as it is, carries a one-two punch; the truly rare and complete ox-blood temptress patina and the RIC Rare 2 rating! Nice!