FORTVNAE REDVCI--The defeat of the Persians and restoration of Armenia

The reverse of this coin-- FORTVNAE REDVCI, celebrates the happy return of the Emperor(s). That is why there are references to modes of travel, like the wheel Fortuna is sitting on and the rudder attached to a globe.

This coin specifically references the return of Galerius after he defeated the Sasanian ruler Shah Narseh in Armenia in A.D. 298. Galerius then went all the way into Persia and captured the capital of Ctesiphon. In the treaty the following year, Narseh restored the Kingdom of Armenia and there was peace between the two nations for 40 years.

RIC also doesn't have this obverse legend listed; but it should come after RIC VI Trier 388



Diocletian
A.D. 298- 299
Ӕ follis 25mm 10.3g
IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
FORTVNAE REDVCI AVGG N N; Fortuna seated left on wheel, holding rudder set on globe in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left; ✶ in right.
In ex. ATR
RIC VI Trier --

 

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Fantastic coin, Victor.

 

Nice example, significant historical connection, and interesting due to being an unlisted obverse. Three plusses!

I have two coins which each also have a reverse reference to the good fortune of a safe and happy return. Caveat: Neither of my coins below are as complete or as attractive as yours.

The first type I have to show connects to Vespasian's safe return to Rome (from Judea and then Egypt) in 70 AD. However, it seems to have been issued/released some months prior to Vespasian's actual arrival, such that the coin type was intended both as an anticipation of, and a celebration of, Vespasian's return.


Although the obverse is well-centered, the reverse was not so fortunate. The "COS ITER" is off-flan. Nonetheless, "FORT RED" is there.

The other coin I have to show in this same vein is of Hadrian, struck at Rome late in his reign, and coinciding with the conclusion of his second major provincial tour -- during which he had traveled extensively through Britain, Gaul, Spain, Asia Minor, and Judea. This Fortunae Reduci type was launched alongside his famous "Travel Series" (the Adventus and Restitutor coins) to signal to the public that the wandering emperor was at last safely back in Rome.


As with the Vespasian denarius, this Hadrian sestertius includes a full obverse legend, but the reverse is missing part of the legend. Yet enough of it is there to know it is indeed a FORTVNAE REDVCI type.