Aureus - Maximianus COS III

This aureus dates to the period of the First Tetrarchy's immediate prehistory, when Maximianus held his third consulship alongside Diocletian. The COS III designation anchors it tightly to 288–289, before the formal proclamation of the Tetrarchic system in 293. Maximianus was at this point conducting campaigns against the Bagaudae in Gaul and preparing operations against the breakaway Carausian usurpation in Britain — a naval venture that ended in failure near the Channel coast.

RIC V.2 612 is attributed to a western mint, most likely Milan or Trier, both of which were issuing aurei for Maximianus during this window.