My First Potin - Beautiful Blue Green Diocletian

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by hotwheelsearl, Jun 19, 2021.

  1. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I have never had an interest in the Alexandrian Potin tets, as I found their artistry rather crude and unappealing.

    However, I took the leap and have purchased several now. I still don't like them THAT much, but they're kind of cool as my LCS has them for great prices.

    This is my favorite of the four I have (Diocletian, Maximian, Carinus, Carus) due to the absolutely gorgeous patina on this one, a Milne 5051.

    Diocletian Tetradrachm Milne 5051.JPG

    The bluish green appears to be some combination of copper oxide(?) and azurite. The oxidation appears stable, and is very attractive. I love how these PT tets often have really neat encrustations.

    My second favorite of my tetrarchy is Maximianus, which isn't as pretty as Dio but has rather large azurite crystals on this Milne 4814!
    Maximianus PT Tet Milne 4814.JPG

    Please post your favorite tets, particularly those with interesting patinas or encrustations!
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    This Salonina probably has the best portrait of any of my tets - and I have 30 of them. It's nice and glossy, and the coin feels great in hand.

    EGYPT, Alexandria

    Billon Tetradrachm, 23mm, 9.8 grams, 12h

    Dated RY 15 (A.D. 267-268)

    Obverse: KOPNHALA CAAONEINA CEB;
    Diademed and draped bust right.

    Reverse: Eagle standing right, holding wreath in beak; palm in left field, L IE to right

    Reference: Koln 2983; Dattari 5346; Milne 4189; Curtis 1642; Emmett 3854

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Nice and green, indeed, @hotwheelsearl! I have a couple of Diocletians and a Maximian from Alexandria, too.

    [​IMG]
    Diocletian, AD 284-305.
    Roman billon tetradrachm, 19.2 mm, 7.24 g, 12 h.
    Egypt, Alexandria, AD 285-6.
    Obv: Α Κ Γ ΟVΑΛ ΔΙΟΚΛΗΤΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ, laureate and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: Athena seated left, holding Nike and resting on scepter, shield at side; L B (= regnal year 2) in field.
    Refs: Dattari 5638; BMCG 2485; Milne 4765; Cologne 3211; RCV 12856.

    [​IMG]
    Diocletian, AD 284-305.
    Roman billon tetradrachm, 19.1 mm, 6.91 g, 12 h.
    Egypt, Alexandria, AD 286-7.
    Obv: Α Κ Γ ΟVΑΛ ΔΙΟΚΛΗΤΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ, laureate head, right.
    Rev: Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; L Γ (=regnal year 3) behind.
    Refs: Dattari 5755; BMCG 2524; Milne 4821; Cologne 3230; RCV 12865; Curtis 2025; MRKA 1261; Emmett 4082.

    [​IMG]
    Maximian, 1st reign, AD 286-305.
    Roman billon tetradrachm, 16.2 mm, 7.29 g.
    Egypt, Alexandria, AD 289-290 Obv: A K M A OVA MAΞIMIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: Dikaiosyne standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae; L in left field and Є (year 5 = 289/290) in right field.
    Refs: Dattari 5850; Similar to BMCG 2550 and RCV 13345 (different placement of Є).
     
  5. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    My Ptolemy Tet 105D8C12-A9F0-4868-90A3-D0387CFE8CC0.jpeg
     

    Attached Files:

  6. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Nice tets!

    I got this one the other day for cheap. I love these chunky little guys. It was kinda cool since the Victory is kind of crude and walking left. Most of the ones I've seen have Victory walking right.
    Diocletian, Potin Tetradrachm Year 4 288 AD.png
     
  7. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    Nice Froggy
     
  8. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    one of my favorite reverse types isvictory. they are more uncommon walkingleft but i have one too!
    Maximianus PT Tet Milne 5034.JPG
     
  9. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    Potin is an alloy of copper, tin and sometimes lead (sometimes with traces of other metals) widely used by the Gallic peoples to make their coins. Potin coins were most often cast and not struck. Its name is derived from the mixture of metals employed in the manufacture of pots.

    D00EAFB4-6673-49B5-9A2B-39B676494179.jpeg

    No lettering left but I love the portrait !
     
  10. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    An opportunity to show (again:D) my recent Claudius II Gothicus:

    Alexandria, Egypt, RY 2 = August 269 – August 270 AD
    20 x 22 mm, 10.8 g
    Emmett 3893.2; Köln 3045; Dattari (Savio) 5407; K&G 104.32; Milne 4254; SRCV III 11414

    Ob.: AΥT•K•KΛAΥΔIOC•CЄB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev.: Poseidon standing left, right foot resting on dolphin, holding torch (variously described as grain ear, sword, ship's ram, aphlaston) in right hand and trident in left; across fields regnal year LB
    upload_2021-6-19_18-57-34.png
    David Sear, author of the "... Coins and their Values" handbooks which are the essential collecting references for Roman, Greek, Greek Imperial, and Byzantine coins once observed that in his opinion one of the most neglected and undervalued series of ancient coins was the billon and potin tetradrachm issues of Egypt under the Roman Empire.

    When the tribulations of the late third century impacted this coinage, billon was replaced by potin, an alloy dominated by copper and lead with a nominal but small silver content.
    Potin tetradrachm issues from Alexandria, beginning with the reign of Claudius II (268-270) and extending until the end of Provincial issues in 305, were prolific and despite the fact that they lasted only 37 years, form a very fascinating subset of numismatic history.
    Quoted from http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-billon-and-potin-tetradrachms-of.html?m=1

    However, some numismatists are of the opinion that Tetradrachms of Alexandria always contain a drop of silver and should be called billon, a good catch-all term for "not very silver but silver bearing" coins.

    In France the word Potin is specifically used for AE Celtic coins, the thick dumpy dark coins that don’t contain silver, but lead, white metal (zinc, tin) and possibly iron (and copper naturally).
     
  11. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    I feel like a Poseidon reverse on a tet HAS to be a rare and desirable type!
     
    cmezner and ancient coin hunter like this.
  12. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Very nice.

    [​IMG]
    Diocletian (284 - 305 A.D.)
    Egypt, Alexandria
    Potin Tetradrachm
    O.: DIOKLHTIANOC CEB; Laureate, cuirassed bust right.
    R.: Elpis advancing left, holding flower and hem; D in exergue, L ENATOV (date) around.
    Alexandria mint, 292/293 A.D.
    20mm
    7.89g
    Köln 3262; Dattari 5675; Milne 5086; Emmett 4046
     
  13. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I like that Poseidon! Kind of an under-the-radar god as far as the Roman provincial coinage goes. And Poseidon is cooler than Neptune.
     
    cmezner likes this.
  14. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Those are both great - I like the Max just as much as the Dio!

    Some nice colours on this ex @Justin Lee Valerian:
    valerian tet.jpg

    Neat reverse (Harpokrates) on this Dio:
    diocletian harpokrates.jpg

    Keep an eye out for the very last year these were issued: Year 12 for Dio, Year 11 for Max, and Year 4 for Galerius and Constantius. Here's my Max (with some nice pink/red going on, ex Emmett too):
    maximian tet.jpg
     
  15. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    These are great coins, in general these Alexandrian coins cover the range from rough to quite beautiful (in my view). Here are two that span the range. First one that is no beauty but has the added appeal of being a Dattari Savio plate coin. Book images (Dattari's pencil rubbings) arranged to align better to the coin. Diocletian Dattari.jpg
    Egypt, Alexandria, Diocletian, AD 284-305, BI tetradrachm, Regnal Year 6 (AD 289/90)
    Obv: A K Γ OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CЄB, laureate and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: Eirene standing left, holding grain ears and scepter; across field, date (S L)
    Ref: Dattari 10638 (this coin)

    and then one that is on the other end of the spectrum
    valerian sm.jpg
    Egypt, Alexandria, Valerian (253-260), Billon-Tetradrachm (dated RY 4)
    Obv: A K Π ΛI OVAΛЄPIANOC ЄV ЄVC, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: L - Δ, Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm branch.
    Ref: Dattari plate 270 5165
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2021
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