Under the tetrarchy and later there were some rare fractional denominations. This coin of Diocletian is only 14 mm. Diocletian, AD 284-305 14 mm. 2.00 grams. The small "1/8 follis" denomination. DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG, head right laureate VOT/XX/AVGG in wreath RIC VI Trier 610a. Zschucke 4.2 Struck c. September 303 [RIC and Zschucke agree] for the festival occasion celebrating vows for twenty years. I just put up a web page on these fractional coins: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/VOTA/fractions.html If you read it and have anything to suggest, PM me. If you have any of these small fractions from Diocletian through Constantine, show us!
Very interesting article, thanks for putting it together. Going to have to be on the lookout now since I don't have an example.
The pieces from Carthage are larger and radiate (not laureate) and of the common "post-reform radiate" denomination which often has CONCORDIA MILITVM as its type. I like the issue from Carthage. It has VOTA types for all four members of the first tetrarchy (Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius, and Galerius), so it makes a nice set.
How do you determine that a fraction is 1/4 or 1/8 rather than 1/5 or 1/10? The last I read suggested the radiate was 2/5 of the full follis but I do not know if that is a theory or something derived from solid records. My only Vota is from Carthage like bsr045's radiate coin. Laureate and half that size are these Genius fractions of Galerius and Constantius from Siscia. You call them "larger" but mine are 2.2 and 2.3g and a quick scan of your examples suggests a wide range of weights as might be expected from non-silver bearing coins. RIC calls them 1/4 folles but I do not know on what basis. They were not issued silvered as I understand the matter. No? Since the silvered, full folles were silver bearing (4.7% or less) there seems to be little value allowed for the silver depending on what date is assigned to the fractions. I find the whole matter of the fractions incomprehensible. Were they coins or special purpose tokens (obviously this question is lifted from the Anonymous Pagan 'fractions' which I can't assign a certain place in the system either)? Galerius Constantius I
Weighing only 0.67 g., the following bronze coin under Emperor Arcadius was struck in Antioch. It has Victory on reverse with Salus Republicae as legend. There's also a very prominent Cross.
I do not have one of the post-reform fractions such as you show, but from the standpoint of size and weight, you might wish to show it alongside the pre-reform predecessor to the 1/8. Here is a AE quinarius of Diocletian, weighing in at 1.40g and 15mm: The quinarii are laureate, as is your post-reform counterpart, Warren. Could we get BSR045 to state the size and weight stats on his post-reform radiate? I find it hard to believe that they would issue the same denomination both laureate and radiate at the same time. On the other hand, two denominations in bronze for the same function (donatives on the occasion of the Vota?) is as Doug says, confusing. Nonetheless, the precedent is found in the pre-reform coinage of antoniniani, denarii, and quinerii with only token silver. BTW my understanding is that normally the post-reform folles were to be without silver and hence larger than the antoniniani they replaced. I too have plenty of silvered examples, and they are confusing to me as well.
The Diocletian I posted above is 2. 3g 19mm Another fraction from tetrarchy: Constantius as Augustus 18mm,2.5g
Yes, that is from the same series. They are often called "quinarii," but without any evidence that is the right name. I have used that name myself. What can you call these unusual small pieces when you don't know their name? My fractions pages discusses that. The post-reform radiates (mostly CONCORDIA MILITVM) were without silver and therefore worth less than the "aureliani" (often called "antoniniani") they look like, but the folles (nummi) had about the same proportion of silver (some are even marked "XXI") that the pre-reform "aureliani" did, making the follis worth much more than the previous radiates because it is so much larger. If you want to know how they are related, as I wrote on my page, at the end in the references, there are many articles in the literature. Some are deceptively certain they can tell you how many of this denomination are in that denomination, but I assure you there are others who disagree and come up with different numbers.
Here is a page on those "quarter-follis" coins, issued only at Siscia. http://augustuscoins.com/ed/qf/ They are about 19 mm, much larger than then 13-14 mm fractions on the OP page. "Quarter-folles" make a good series to collect because there are only ten types and you can get them all without breaking the bank. They used to be "rare" before the 1990s, but then the Iron Curtain came down and many came flooding out that the West had not known about before. I know a collector who had 244 of them a couple of years ago. He may have more by now.
I have 3 quarter folles ?? of Constantius II , weighing 1,3 / 1,4 and 1,5 gram This is the light 1,3 gram:
Great page on an interesting topic, not to mention a really impressive collection of those rare fractions. The only one I have is this Constantine as Caesar. CONSTANTINE I, as Caesar AE Quarter-Follis. 1.82g, 16.7mm. Trier mint, AD 306-307. RIC VI Trier 750; Mazzini 748 (this coin). O: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NC, laureate, cuirassed bust right. R: VO/TIS/X in three lines within wreath. Ex Giuseppe Mazzini Collection (1883-1961)
I have/have had a few fractions. Diocletian Bronze denarius communis Obv:- DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG, laureate head right Rev:- VTILITAS PVBLICA, Utilitas standing facing, head left, hands in drapery. Minted in Rome (T in exergue). A.D. 294 - 295 Reference:- RIC VI Rome 48 (Rated R2). 1.43 gms. 16.68 mm Constantine the Great Half Follis Obv:– CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right Rev:– MARTI CONSERV, Mars helmeted, in military dress, spread cloak, standing, right, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield Minted in Trier (// PTR). A.D. 310 - 311 Reference:– RIC VI Trier 897 (S) 1.84gms. 9.7mm I have some post abdication fractions too. Maximianus Herculius Half follis Obv:– DN MAXIMIANO FELICIS, Laureate and mantled bust right, holding olive-branch and mappa Rev:– PROVIDENTIA DEORVM, Providentia standing right, extending hand to Quies standing light, holding branch and leaning on scepter Minted in Alexandria (Delta //ALE). A.D. 308 Reference:– RIC VI Alexandria 91a
I have only a couple Fractionals: RI Severus II 306-307 CE AE18 Quarter Folles Siscia mint RI Severus II 306-307 CE AE18 Quarter Folles
Quarter folles from Siscia were definitively silvered, as could be seen on some better preserved examples, like the two below. Click for enlargement.
