February 23rd: DIOCLETIANS’s shameful day

February 23, 303 AD was not the most glorious day in the life of Diocletian. He ordered that the newly built Christian church in Nicomedia be razed to the ground, its scriptures burned, and its treasures seized. February 23rd was the feast of Terminalia, for Terminus, the god of borders. It was the day they would put an end to Christianity. The next day, the first "Edict against the Christians" of Diocletian is published. The edict prohibited Christians from gathering for worship and ordered the destruction of their scriptures, liturgical books and places of worship across the Roman Empire. But we won’t talk more about this sad day. Let’s rather focus on his coinage.

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At the end of the 3rd century, Diocletian tries to reestablish a tri-metallic gold/silver/bronze monetary system in what looks like a return to the system adopted by Augustus three centuries earlier and which had run into trouble during the 3rd century. In fact, the three metals had great difficulty coexisting, especially because of the gap that existed between the intrinsic value and the face value of deferred denominations. When he took power in 284 AD, the monetary circuits were clogged with these small billion coins with a low silver content which are the antoniniani and their imitations. Strictly speaking, silver had not been minted for half a century and gold coins were issued sporadically in varying weights. This gold coinage is the first to be adjusted. From 286 AD, the weight of the aureus is stabilized at 1/60 of a pound (5.45g), which is underlined by the symbol Σ (=60) affixed to the reverse of certain aurei. Multiples worth up to 10 aurei are occasionally minted for distribution to high-ranking officers as part of donatiua. Sub-multiples of the aurei (Half-aurei) are also emitted punctually.


NAC picture ( the epsilon symbol is retrograde)


Around 293/294 AD, the minting of almost pure silver coinage was revived throughout the Empire. The argenteus is stuck to 1/96 of a pound (3.40g), as evidenced by the mark XCVI (=96) sometimes seen on the reverse. This is a return to the standards applied by Nero in 64 AD! Almost at the same time, a heavy piece of silvery bronze is created. This originally contained around 4 to 5% silver, as well as a significant proportion of lead and tin. Minted to 1/32 of a pound, it weighs around 10 g. Until the 1980s, this denomination was called follis; the term nummus is preferred today. The creation of the nummus is generally located in 294 AD, even if precise chronological markers are lacking.



CNG picture

At that time, mints multiplied: up to 14 mints covered the Empire, from London to Alexandria. It should be noted that some regions, such as Italy or Gaul, have two workshops while others, such as Spain, do not. The coin marking system (workshop, officinaes or issues) intended to better control production is becoming more systematic. Coinage is now harmonized across the Empire. Egypt, which until then had operated in a closed circuit, adopted the nummus around 296-297 as part of the usurpation of Domitius Domitianus. At the same time, the heavy silvered bronze coin is introduced into Britannia after Constantinus Chlorus' victory over Allectus.

There are three very common themes on the coinage of Diocletian (and of the tetrarchs): Jupiter, Hercules and the Genius of the Roman people. The latter was proffered as a State cult that was as much devoted to patriotism and a sense of unity among the citizens of the Empire as it was devoted to actual tutelary spirits. With almost 200 different reverse types, collecting this Emperor’s coinage could be very interesting and challenging.
Please show me your Diocletian’s examples !

I only have two folles in my collection:

Antioch 27mm 11.11g
GENIO POPULI ROMANI


Rome 27mm 11.29g
SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN

 

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Here's a Sacra Moneta. I wish the reverse legend were completely on the flan, but I like the coin anyway.


Diocletian, AD 284-305.
Roman billon follis, 10.80 g, 23.6 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 302-305.
Obv: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Laureate head, right.
Rev: SACRA MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae; star in right field, R P in exergue.
Refs: RIC vi, p. 362, 103a; Cohen 434; RCV 12815.

 

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


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


BOSPORAN KINGDOM
Tiberius Julius Thothorses, (278 - 309 A.D.)
Æ Stater
O: BAΣIΛEΩΣ θOΦθΩPΣOY; Diademed, draped bust of king right.
R: Laureate head of Diocletian right, tamga in right field / ZΠθ
Panticapaeum mint (?), AD 290.
7.6g
20mm
Anokhin 735, Mionnet 2, 160ff.

 

Dominic, Diocletian's treatment of Christians certainly was shameful, but his cohorts Maximian Herculius, & Galerius share in this shame. Pictured below are some of my favorite Diocletian nummi.

 

Diocletian's c.294 AD monetary reform had introduced the pure silver argenteus and 5% silver nummus.



But the nummus at ~10g was a fairly high denomination coin (valued at 25 DC, a day's wages for a farm laborer in Diocletian's c.301 AD edict on maximum prices), so at the same time he also introduced two smaller base metal lower denomination coins, the post-reform radiate (PRR) and post reform-laureate (PRL) to fill the gap (nummus ~27mm, PRR ~21mm, PRL ~15mm).

The most common post-reform radiates were the same CONCORDIA MILITVM reverse type as the 5% silver pre-reform radiates, but now contained no silver and therefore lost their old XXI (20:1 bronze:silver ratio) marking and gained the new-fangled mintmark instead.



The PRR likely was valued at 4 DC (as reflected in many cheaper items having that price in his edict on maximum prices), with the PRL valued at 2 DC (denarii communes). The radiate bust therefore kept it's old "double value" meaning with respect to the value of a PRR vs PRL.

The post-reform laureates (most common type VTILITAS PVBLICA) were not continued for long, perhaps being rendered useless by inflation. The post-reform radiates didn't last too long either, and saw their last hurrah at Alexandria in 306 AD with the appearance of Constantine I as caesar.

 

Pretty bad I am forgetting what coins I own.


Diocletian, As Senior Augustus, (305-311/2 A.D.)
Æ Follis
Abdication Issue
O: D N DIOCLETIANO BAEATISS, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding olive branch and mappa.
R: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM, Providentia standing left, extending branch to Quies standing opposite who holds a scepter; Є/KP between, ALE in exergue.
Alexandria mint, struck A.D. 308-310.
6.55g
26mm
RIC VI 109

 

Diocletian (Struck under Maximian)
Antoninianus
285 AD
Obverse: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, Bust of Diocletian, radiate, draped, right
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG, Victory, winged, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand
Mintmark: A

 

Here is my abdication follis and a tet also from Alexandria.

Diocletian (A.D. 284-305) AE Follis

Weight: 6.90 grams

Diameter: 23 mm

Mint: Follis struck at Alexandria (ALE Mintmark) between 308 and 310, after his abdication.

Obverse: DN DIOCLETIANO BAEATISS, laurel-wreathed bust right wearing mantle, holding olive branch and holding mappa in the other hand.

Reverse: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM, Providentia standing right, extending right hand to Quies, standing left, holding branch and sceptre.

Reference: Sear 12922, RIC VI Alexandria 80 corr.

 

What is that @furryfrog02 ? How big is it ?

 

The 3 antoniniani are worse in hand, the follis is about OK

 

Whoops. I was getting the kids ready for school and hit send before I meant to!
I corrected my post.
It is 19.9mm and 4.08g

 

Here's two bust variants of Maximinus Daia's PROV. DEOR. abdication type for Diocletian, with heads of Sol and Jupiter on his mantle.

RIC VI Alexandria 128 (head of Sol on mantle)



RIC VI Alexandria 146 (head of Jupiter on mantle)



In addition to the busts, what's also interesting is that Daia was issuing abdication types at all this late (c.310-311 AD) ! The initial PROV. DEOR. QVIES AVGG type had been issued immediately by members of the 2nd tetrarchy in 305-306, then Constantine had issued his own QVIES AVGG for Diocletian in 307 AD (oddly plural AVGG despite not including Maximianus who was already back out of retirement), but Daia continued with these at Antioch and Alexandria all the way to his coinage reform of 310-311 AD... perhaps trying to curry favor with Diocletian due to his unhappiness with Galerius.

 

IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG
Laureate head right

GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
Genius standing left holding patera and Cornucopiae SF in fields PTR in ex.

Trier 294 AD

9.74g
29 mm
RIC 582


IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
laureate head right

SAC MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN
R wreath S in ex.
Moneta standing left with scales and cornucopiae

9.32g
30 mm
EF
Scarce
Rome 306 AD
Rome RIC VI 132b
This is the Wildwinds example!

 

i have him on a pre reform in the tetrarchy..

 

On my imperial collection, I tried to concentrate mainly on first 2 centuries (and also the 3rd but not as main preference). 4th century coins were not usually on my wish list but when trying to develop a one coin per affordable emperor collection, Diocletian coins are a must.

I managed to buy one last month - exactly what I wanted, a nice portrait and (for me) an interesting reverse. And of course, a low price. I consider this one a very decent example.




Diocletian AD 284-305. Ticinum
Follis Æ
26 mm, 9,57 g
AD 300 - AD 303
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, head of Diocletian, laureate, right / SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTER, Moneta, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand
MintMark: -/-//PT•; OfficinaMark: T
RIC VI Ticinum 45a

 

I wish I could find one of the more realistic issues of the Follis, as illustrated on page 277 of Van Meter, left picture.

 

A few of my favorite Diocletians:
Pre-reform antoniniani:
Issued by Carausius, London, PAX AVGGG


From the coded series, O of IOBI, officina 2, Siscia


I just like the tones on this Jupiter & Hercules from Antioch.


Post reform folles:
London (no mintmark)


Left facing Treveri with weakly clashed die


Alexandria from the issue with alloy marked XXI


Post abdication Follis Alexandria


Alexandria tetradrachm year 9 spelled out to avoid the theta

 

If Diocletian had used the less violent ways Julian later used to fight christianity he might have been more successful but Julian had the unfair advantage of having insider knowledge by beeing an ex-christian. Anyways here a Diocletian Follis from my side:
Emperor Diocletian - Follis - GENIO POPVLI ROMANI - Treverorum mint

 

I got a couple of Diocletians. The second one is my current favorite:

Diocletian, Roman Empire, AE antoninianus, 285–286 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Diocletian from the back r. Rev: IOVI CONSERVAT AVGG; Jupiter standing l. with thunderbolt and sceptre; in exergue, XXIB. 22mm, 3.62g. RIC V-2 Diocletian 162.


Diocletian, Roman Empire, AE antoninianus, 285 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Diocletian r. Rev: IOV ET HERCV CONSER AVGG; Jupiter, standing r., holding globe in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand, and Hercules, standing l., holding Victory in r. hand and club and lion's skin in l. hand; in central field, crescent above B; in exergue, XXI. 19 mm, 3.89g. Ref: RIC V Diocletian 323.


Diocletian, Roman Empire, AE radiate, 295–299 AD, Cyzicus mint. Obv: IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust of Diocletian r. Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM; Jupiter standing l. and holding sceptre presents Victory to emperor standing r.; between them, mintmark KΓ. 22mm, 3.2g. RIC VI Cyzicus 15a.


Diocletian, Roman Empire, AE1 ("follis"), 302–303 AD, Antioch mint. Obv: IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; head of Diocletian, laureate, r. Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over l. shoulder, standing l., holding patera in r. hand and holding cornucopiae in l. hand; in field r., B; in exergue, ANT*. 27mm, 9.61g. Ref: RIC VI Antioch 56a.