RIC VI, SERDICA 22, MAXIMINUS, UNLISTED OFFICINA A

OBVERSE	MAXIMIN-VSNOBC [MAXIMINVS NOB C]; head r., laur.
REVERSE	VIRTVS-MILITVM [VIRTVS MILITVM]; Three-turreted campgate, open, without doors. •SM•SDA• in exergue.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED OFFICINA - A. RIC lists for this type only officina Δ (p. 497). General note from p. 488: "Very rare silver is known, for Severus and Maximinus. That of Maximinus could go with the preceding Group [...]. The reverse type of both varieties is Virtus Militum (three-tureted gate, open, without doors), as in Groups I and II. Weight appears to remain at c. 3.3. gm.". Additionally, footnote 1 on p. 497 reads as follows: "This silver is of very great rarity, and it is impossible to say how many officinae produced it". Existing evidence proves that this issue was minted by all officinae (A-Є). Note also that the existence of Constantius' and Maximinus' coins which share the same rev. die proves that in fact Maximinus should be placed earlier, in Group II (see comparison of Constantius' and Maximinus' coins from Gemini auction). Note that also primitive forgery of this type exists (example below). Listed in Gautier Argent (294-312) under two separate entries: - p. 456, no. 38, parallel ties, obv. break I-N; - p. 456, no. 39, parallel ties, obv. break N-V; See also: SERDICA 22, MAXIMINUS, UNLISTED OFFICINA B SERDICA 22, MAXIMINUS, UNLISTED OFFICINA Γ SERDICA 22, MAXIMINUS, UNLISTED OFFICINA Є

NOTES

Argenteus. Weight 3.18 g; diameter 20 mm. Coin sold on Numismatik Lanz auction 144 (lot 680) in November 2008 for EUR 2,500; sold on Rauch auction 99 (lot 293) in December 2015 for EUR 2,600; sold on Roma Numismatics auction XVI (lot 807) in September 2018 for GBP 2,800. Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 39. Other specimens: - sold on Roma Numismatics auction XVIII (lot 1229) in September 2019 for GBP 1,800; weight 3.37 g; diameter 21 mm; obv. legend break I-N; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 38 [click for picture]; - sold on Heritage Auctions 61160 (lot 97499) in May 2020 for USD 3,840; weight 3.31 g; diameter 19 mm; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 39 [click for picture]; - sold on Leu Numismatik auction 11 (lot 291) in May 2022 for CHF 4,000; weight 3.34 g; diameter 19 mm; obv. legend break I-N; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 38 [click for picture]; - sold on Gorny & Mosch auction 196 (lot 2975) in March 2011 for EUR 1,300; sold on Künker auction 341 (lot 6065) in October 2020 for EUR 2,200; weight 3.46 g; obv. legend break I-N; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 38 [click for picture]; - sold on VIA auction 3 (lot 216) in May 2023 for EUR 1,600; weight 3.24 g; obv. legend break I-N; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 38 [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction 59 (lot 1160) in April 2011 for CHF 3,200; sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction 80 (lot 249) in October 2014 for CHF 1,600; weight 3.23 g; obv. legend break I-N; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 38 [click for picture]; - sold on Numismatica Ars Classica auction 51 (lot 418)in March 2009 for CHF 4,750; weight 3.30 g; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 39 [click for picture]; - sold on Hirsch auction 289 (lot 1081) in May 2013 for EUR 1,500; weight 3.24 g; Gautier Argent (294-312) no. 39 [click for picture]; - FORGERY sold on eBay in October 2021 for USD 100 (note error in obv. legend: MAXIMIMVS); weight 2.97 g [click for picture].