I have been filling out my Diocletian collection and added three examples this week. first up is IOVI FVLGERATORI -- to Jupiter the Thunderer Diocletian A.D. 290 Æ Antoninianus 24mm 4.0g IMP DIOCLE-TIANVS AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the rear. IOVI FVLGERATORI; Jupiter, naked except for cloak fluttering over l. arm, stepping back, about to hurl thunderbolt; at feet to left., eagle standing l., head right. In ex. XXIΓ RIC Vii Rome 167; Hunter 26 and next is a fairly common type but it is in fantastic condition Diocletian A.D. 290- 291 Ӕ Antoninianus 22mm 4.0g IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG; Radiate and mantled bust left, holding eagle tipped sceptre. IOVI AVGG; Jupiter standing left, holding victory and leaning on long sceptre, eagle at feet. In ex. A RIC Vii Lugdunum 28 and last is a coin with a bust type not recorded in RIC, know from only 4-5 examples Diocletian A.D. 290- 291 Ӕ Antoninianus 21x24mm 3.4g IMP DIOCLETIANVS P AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust left with shield on left shoulder. SALVS AVGG; Salus standing right, feeding snake from patera. In ex. C RIC V Lugdunum --; Bastien supp 1 #396
here's a few more that I have had for a couple of months. two from the Rauceby Hoard-- This hoard was discovered in the UK in 2017 and totaled 3,099 coins. Two coins were radiates (before A.D. 282) and the rest were struck from A.D. 294- 307. The majority are from western mints…London (875) Trier (1459) and Lyon (468). Diocletian A.D. 295 Ӕ follis 25mm 9.7g IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae. In ex. LA RIC VI Lugdunum 2a Diocletian A.D. 296- 297 Ӕ follis 27mm 8.9g IMP DIOCLETIANVS P AVG; laureate head right. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae; A-Γ across fields. In ex. TR RIC VI Trier 181a and an abdication issue Diocletian A.D. 305- 306 Ӕ follis 27x28mm 8.8gm D N DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG; Laureate and mantled bust r., holding olive-branch and mappa. PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG; Providentia standing r., extending hand to Quies standing l., holding branch and leaning on scepter; S-F across fields, E in center. In ex. •SM•SD• RIC VI Serdica 15a
This type of consular bust is rare for Diocletian. The imperial mantle was used only in years when he held the consulship. Sear dates this coin to 289 – 290 AD, RIC dates it to 290 – 292 AD and Bastien to 290- 291 AD. Bastien 323 e, pl. XXII (39 exemplars); Despite the increasingly autocratic tendencies of emperors during the 3rd century, it was actually during this time that the consular bust, which represented not military, but civic duty, was first introduced.
This follis is the Maximianus abdication issue, which commemorates the unique joint retirement of the two senior emperors, Diocletian and Maximianus, in 305 AD. A common and highly collectible coin from an unprecedented event in Roman history. AE1, Mysia, Kyzikos, 305 – 306 AD, 4th officina struck under the authority of Galerius 27 x 28 mm, 11.453 g, 7h RIC VI Cyzicus 22b; Sear 13411 Ob.: DN MAXIMIANO BEATISSIMO SEN AVG (Our Lord Maximianus, Most Fortunate Senior Augustus) Laureate bust of Maximianus facing r., wearing the imperial mantle (consular robe) and holding an olive branch and a mappa (piece of cloth used to start games). Border of dots. Rev.: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG Providentia (Foresight) and Quies (Repose) standing facing each other. Providentia standing to r., extending her r. hand to Quies standing to l., holding a branch and leaning on a scepter. Mintmark KΔ. Border of dots.
