The 14 Mints of the 1st Tetrarchy

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Caesar_Augustus, Sep 29, 2020.

  1. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    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.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The coins from north to south starting with my favorite :D:

    The first one is a gem from @jamesicus's collection. An early issue follis from the newly liberated diocese of Britannia.

    Diocletian
    AE Follis

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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

    [​IMG]
    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. :)
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
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  3. Dobbin

    Dobbin Active Member

    Very cool. Here is the Dio'n'Max pair I recently bought to start my Tetrarchy set.
    Dio and Max obverse.jpg Dio and Max reverse.jpg
    IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG on left from Siscia
    IMP CMA MAXIMIMANVS PF AVG on right from Cyzicus
    matching GENIO POPVLI ROMANI on both
     
  4. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    This is RIC VI, Alexandria, 16a crescent (OFF Γ). I have one too.

    - Broucheion
     
  5. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    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!
     
  6. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    Very nice! Here’s one from the Ticinum mint:

    3DACDFB8-E4F5-42B7-A929-6573C6377A12.jpeg
    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.
     
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  7. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    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
    ru3370bb0528.jpg

    Aquileia Maximianus
    ru3620cc1533.jpg

    Siscia Maximianus
    ru3635bb2990.jpg

    Aquileia Galerius
    ru3950bb1520.jpg

    Siscia Galerius
    ru3960bb2066.jpg

    This Nicomedia Galerius does not count since it is 2nd Tetrarchy. I lack the 1st.
    ru4040bb1723.jpg
     
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  8. Luke B

    Luke B Active Member

    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:

    Maximian follis Heraclea.PNG
    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.

    Maximian follis Cyzicus.PNG
    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!
     
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  9. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..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! :D 3 of the 4 tetrachy 001.JPG
     
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  10. IMP Shogun

    IMP Shogun Well-Known Member

    I can't tell where this on is from. 28mm on an oval flan. PT in exergue is my guess.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 30, 2020
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  11. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    @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.
    GAL4.jpg
     
  12. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

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  13. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    C.A. Your maps & coins make a great presentation :D! I've been working on a set I'd be happy with for years, but I'm only halfway there :(.
     
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  14. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    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
    [​IMG]
    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
    [​IMG]
    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
     
  15. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Nice collection. I have been gathering up some of the large folles this year..
    at 28mm+ they are impressive in hand.


    upload_2020-9-30_10-46-21.png

    upload_2020-9-30_10-45-32.png
    upload_2020-9-30_10-47-57.png
    upload_2020-9-30_10-49-57.png
    upload_2020-9-30_10-51-28.png
     
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  16. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    Wow, great coins
     
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  17. IMP Shogun

    IMP Shogun Well-Known Member

  18. Caesar_Augustus

    Caesar_Augustus Well-Known Member

    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
    [​IMG]
    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
     
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  19. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    @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.
     
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