I started a project not long ago to try and collect the early post-reform folles of the first tetrarchy for every one of the 14 mints in operation within the Empire at that time. I haven't completed the set yet, with 6 more mints to go, but I couldn't wait any longer. Once the set is complete I'll post an update. Some background. During Diocletian's reign, he instituted a plethora of Empire-changing policies to not only raise the Empire out of the crisis of the third century once and for all, but also allow it to prosper once again. One of these changes was a reformation of the currency. The debased antoninianus (augmented by Aurelian, and his successors) was replaced by the 10g follis and the currency was re-valued in an attempt to bring economic stability to the Empire. Although the standard did not last long before debasement started all over again, it does provide us with an array of beautiful coins to study from all over the Empire as a large supply of the new standard coins were needed for use by the populace. I counted 14 mints in operation that provided this supply. Last year, while travelling in the UK, I visited a museum in London which had a beautiful display of Ancient Roman coins on a map. I was so inspired that I wanted to do the same for this collecting theme. So here's the museum's display, and mine is below. The coins from north to south starting with my favorite : The first one is a gem from @jamesicus's collection. An early issue follis from the newly liberated diocese of Britannia. Diocletian AE Follis 296 A.D., London Mint, null Officina 9.06g, 28.0mm, 6H Obverse: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Laureate, truncated, bare neck bust right Reverse: GENIO POPV–LI ROMANI, Genius standing, facing left, head surmounted by a modius, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left arm Exergue: -/-//LON Provenance: Ex. Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 1, Lot 128, Ex. James Pickering Romano-Britannic Collection Reference: RIC VI Londinium 1a, Cloke & Toone 1.01.001 (R) Maximian AE Follis 295 A.D., Treveri Mint, 2nd Officina 10.55g, 27.0mm, 12H Obverse: IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG, Laureate head of Maximianus to right Reverse: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, The Genius of the Roman people, nude but for chlamys Exergue: B/-//TR Provenance: Ex. Leu Numismatik Web Auction 10, Lot 1515, Ex. Tetrarchy Collection Reference: RIC VI Treveri 154b The following is an example of the invasion folles that Constantius took with him to supply the to-be-liberated Britannia with the new standard of coinage. These coins were likely minted by Lugdunum mint workers (evidence from style similarities), thus I attribute it to Lugdunum. Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 294 - 296 A.D., Lugdunum Mint, null Officina 11.15g, 28.5mm, 6H Obverse: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV–LI ROMANI, Genius standing, facing left, head surmounted by a modius, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left arm Exergue: -/-//- Provenance: Ex. eBay 2019 Reference: RIC VI Lugdunum 17a Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 303 - 305 A.D., Rome Mint, null Officina 9.287g, 30.3mm, 6H Obverse: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: -/-//R(crescent)T Provenance: Ex. Forum Ancient Coins 2019 Reference: RIC VI Rome 112a Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 296 - 297 A.D., Heraclea Mint, 1st Officina 8.39g, 29.0mm, 12H Obverse: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: -/-//HTA Provenance: Ex. Budges-Beak eBay 2019 Reference: RIC VI Heraclea 18a Maximian AE Follis 298 A.D., Antioch Mint, 6th Officina 8.75g, 27.0mm, 6H Obverse: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Head of Maximian, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV-L-I ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: (✱ on ✱)/(crescent on ς)//ANT Provenance: Ex. Dattari Collection, Ex. Jesus Vico Online Auction 5, Lot 211 Reference: RIC VI Antioch 50b Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 299 - 303 A.D., Carthage Mint, null Officina 9.75g, 28.5mm, 12H Obverse: CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART, Carthage, wearing long robe, standing front, head left, holding fruits in both hands Exergue: -/-//Γ Provenance: Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 456, Lot 751 (part of) Reference: RIC VI Carthage 32a Diocletian AE Follis Alexandria Mint (not yet attributed) Thanks for looking, all! Please post coins of the 1st Tetrarchy from all the mints. I would be keen to see examples from mints that I have yet to get examples from: Ticinum, Aquileia, Siscia, Thessalonika, Cyzicus, and Nicomedia.
Very cool. Here is the Dio'n'Max pair I recently bought to start my Tetrarchy set. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG on left from Siscia IMP CMA MAXIMIMANVS PF AVG on right from Cyzicus matching GENIO POPVLI ROMANI on both
Collecting Roman coinage lends itself to creating your own mini-theme. You have chosen are really interesting theme and have made a good start fulfilling it. Excellent!
Very nice! Here’s one from the Ticinum mint: Constantius I, Ticinum, AE Follis, (25mm., 10.48g.)CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, chlamys over shoulder, holding patera and cornucopia, mintmark T. RIC VI 24a.
I do not have that set either. Oddly I have the three Western mints you lack but none of the Eastern three. I do not know why. Ticinum Diocletian Aquileia Maximianus Siscia Maximianus Aquileia Galerius Siscia Galerius This Nicomedia Galerius does not count since it is 2nd Tetrarchy. I lack the 1st.
A nice set to aim for, I will probably eventually complete the set as I continuously seem to be buying coins of the Tetrarchs. As of now I have two post-reform First Tetrarchy folles: Obverse: Laureate head of Maximian facing right. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. Reverse: Genius standing left holding cornucopia and patera. HT A in exergue. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI. Reference: RIC VI (Heraclea): 19b. Obverse: Laureate head of Maximian facing right. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. Reverse: Genius standing left holding cornucopia and patera. K Epsilon in exergue. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI. Reference: RIC VI (Cyzicus): 12b. If anyone thinks I have gotten my references wrong, please correct me!
..very kool semi large rabbit hole to go down...i started on the tetrarchy years ago...and just recently realized i had but only one coin go...that ole Constantius Chlorus is missing in mine..but he's on the list.. and @dougsmit, i was reading your statment in Forvm today about silvered later bronze coins...you're famous throughout the coin world!
@Caesar_Augustus .......What a lovely idea!.....Really like how you're digitally displaying the set and some super coins....Must be great fun when you're on the hunt.... Galerius Maximianus as Caesar AE Follis minted 297 AD...11,46 g. 25 mm. Obv: GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES. Laureate Head right Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI/ (crescent)/ D// ANT. Genius standing left, holding cornucopiae and patera. RIC VI 49b Antioch From an old collection formed in the 1920s. Ex Münzhandlung Kallai, Vienna.
What a fun set to collect, @Caesar_Augustus! I'm waiting on a few to arrive in the mail from @John Anthony.
C.A. Your maps & coins make a great presentation ! I've been working on a set I'd be happy with for years, but I'm only halfway there .
Thanks everyone! Lots of cool coins. I have a few more coins from Antioch too. I'm most fond of these two: Galerius AE Follis 302 - 303 A.D., Antioch Mint, 7th Officina 10.03g, 29.0mm, 6H Obverse: GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Head of Galerius, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: -/Z//ANT✱ Provenance: Ex. Dattari Collection, Ex. Jesus Vico Online Auction 5, Lot 214 Reference: RIC VI Antioch 57b Constantius I Chlorus AE Follis 300 - 301 A.D., Antioch Mint, 10th Officina 9.132g, 27.9mm, 12H Obverse: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Head of Constantius Chlorus, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, pouring liquid from patera in right hand and holding cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: K/(I on V)//ANT Provenance: Ex. Forum Ancient Coins 2019 Reference: RIC VI Antioch 55a
Nice collection. I have been gathering up some of the large folles this year.. at 28mm+ they are impressive in hand.
It may seem strange that I provide a link that one of our members authored but I've found it extremely informative. I try to purchase from sources I find helpful as well: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/index.html
Ah, thank you for linking @Valentinian's page. There's a lot of really good information and cool coins on that page. Here's another early follis of the 1st Tetrarchy from Rome with a retrogade 'Z' in the exergue. Galerius AE Follis 296 - 297 A.D., Rome Mint, 7th Officina 9.833g, 27.4mm, 6H Obverse: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES, Head of Galerius, laureate, right Reverse: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand Exergue: R/-//Z Provenance: Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 456, Lot 751 (part of), Ex. Forum Ancient Coins Reference: RIC VI Rome 67b
@Caesar_Augustus Just wondering how you have progressed with this project? It is something I am also just starting to assemble and I would be interested to see if you've made any more progress since this post.