Galeria Valeria was the daughter of the emperor Diocletian and the second wife of Galerius. She received the titles of Augusta and Mater Castrorum in 309 and goes down in history as a victim of political circumstances: In AD 293 Diocletian appointed the Illyrian general Galerius as his co-emperor in the East and soon arranged the marriage of Valeria to the new ruler. Unlike Diocletian, who tolerated Christianity, despite the fact that he did not share his daughter's sympathy towards Christians, Galerius issued edicts to persecute Christians.
After his death in AD 311 Galeria was entrusted to the care of the co-ruler Licinius I. Valeria, however, apparently felt somewhat insecure around her caretaker and together with her mother, fled to the court of the adopted son of Diocletian, emperor Maximinus Daia. The ambitious Maximinus soon proposed marriage to the wealthy Valeria, who refused the infamy of an incestuous bond with an already married emperor. Maximinus then exiled both Valeria and her mother to a district in Syria. During the civil war that ensued between Maximinus and Licinius, both women were on the run until Licinius killed his rival in AD 313. About fifteen months later Valeria and her mother were recognised in Thessalonica and beheaded in that city.

Coin portraits of Galeria Valeria usually depict strong features with a firm jawbone and prominent chin. The bust is often draped, sometimes cuirassed. Other coins portraying Valeria depict her as a more feminine and attractive lady, while the reverse of her coins mostly shows Venus holding an apple as shown on this AE follis from Antioch.

Obv. Diademed and draped bust of Galeria Valeria, GAL. VALERIA AVG.
Rev. Venus standing, holding an apple, VENERI VICTRICI, in ex. INT.