Whilst my focus on Lugdunum is primarily with the output of Probus, I do occasionally delve into the wider coinage of the mint. I have gathered a few examples over the years but the following two coins are the finst coins of these reverses that I have managed to obtain for Diocletian. Diocletian - Antoninianus Obv:– IMP DIOCLETIANVS P AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:– COMES AVGG, Minerva standing left, holding sceptre and resting hand on shield Minted in Lugdunum (//C). Emission 8, Officina 3. A.D. 292 Reference(s) – Cohen -. Bastien 442 (1). RIC V Pt 2 14 var (Officina) 3.29 g. 23.01 mm. 0 degrees and one from the much later issue with shortened legends Diocletian - Antoninianus Obv:– DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right (seen from the rear) Rev:– ABVNDANT AVGG, Abunbantia standing right holding cornucopia Minted in Lugdunum (//A). Emission 12 second series, Officina 1. A.D. 294 Reference(s) – Cohen -. Bastien 599 (6). RIC V Pt 2 9 4.24 g. 22.42 mm. 180 degrees Patchy silvering
Very nice coins, Martin. I only have one Ant. of his and it's still one of my favorite coins in my collection. Diocletian (284 - 305 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG, Jupiter stg R hldg globe and scepter; Hercules stg L hldg Victory, club,& lionskin, crescent & Z in center, XXI in ex. Antioch Mint 4.0g 21.6mm RIC V 323
I have 2 examples to share. One quite nice. One quite 'holy' (forgive the pun). RIC VI 13. Heraclea. On close examination with a stereo microscope the hole was surely made in antiquity. The hole's sides appear to have the same oxidation layer and patina as the coin's surfaces -- as best as I can tell. But why was it holed??? Who knows! Jewelry seems to be the most common answer, but this is an odd place for that purpose. Perhaps it was done by someone who had a grudge against Diocletian? Perhaps it was held by a nail on a wall or door as a charm/talisman, decoration, or odd keepsake? Maybe strung together on a cord with others in the manner of Chinese cash coins? Regardless of the reason, it was clearly purposeful. (FWIW: I lean toward an individual's exercise of damnatio. But I acknowledge that is as much hunch as any other supposition.) RIC V 306. Cyzicus. This one has beautifully toned silvering. I fell in love with it when I saw it at a coin show. (And they say there's no such thing as "love-at-first-sight"!) ;-)
In addition to a few Diocletian folles, I do have one Diocletian ant, from Antioch, with a little Victory who looks like the Quaker Oats guy: Diocletian, silvered AE Antoninianus, 293-294 AD, Antioch Mint (7th Officina). Obv. Radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right, IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG / Rev. Jupiter stdg. left, holding long scepter, presents Victory on globe to Diocletian, CONCORDIA MILITVM; Z in lower middle field (= 7th officina of Antioch mint), XXI in exergue. RIC VI 322 (p. 256), Sear RCV IV 12637, Cohen 34. 20.87 mm., 4.75 g.
If you look at the coinage of Diocletian and Maximianus Herculius from this period you will notice that each emperor generally favoured their adopted gods, Jupiter and Hercules respectively. After all Diocletian assumed the title Iovius, and Maximian assumed the title Herculius. Coins that buck this trend where they show the other's deity do also occur but much less frequently than depited their own. Though sometimes in a show of unity they produced coins showing both gods as oyu cen see with the coin from @Mat above. Pax types tend to be quite prolific from both but they certainly favoured their own gods.
Here is a typical Jupiter type of Diocletian from Lugdunum Obv:– IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust seen from the rear. Rev:– IOVI TVTATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left with Victory & scepter, eagle at feet Minted in Lugdunum (P in exe), Emission 5, Officina 1. Autumn 287- Autumn 289 A.D. References:– RIC V part 2 Lugdunum 53 Bust Type C, Bastien 143 and a much less typical Jupiter type of Maximianus Herculius Obv:– IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right (seen from front) Rev:– IOVI AVGG, Jupiter standing right holding thunderbolt and spear,eagle at feet. Minted in Lugdunum (//A). Emission 7. Officina 1. Spring A.D. 290 – A.D. 291 Reference(s) – Cohen -. Bastien - (0). RIC V Pt. 2 Lugdunum - Bust Type C. This reverse type not noted in RIC or Bastien for Maximianus Herculius. It is noted in RIC and Bastien for Diocletian (RIC quotes as common, Bastien 300 (1), 301 (1) and 302 (3) would appear to counter this rating)
