I am announcing a new educational site, "Introduction to Roman Coins of the First Tetrarchy: Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius, and Galerius." http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/index.html It has links to several other pages, some previously existing, about related coins. One is a another new page on coins of the abdication of Diocletian and Maximian: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/retirement.html Here is one abdication piece on that page: Diocletian, 284-305 25-24 mm. 6.96 grams. DN DIOCLETIANO BEATISS Diocletian in imperial mantle holding olive branch and mappa PROVIDENTIA DEORVM S X K in middle field ALE in exergue RIC VI Alexandria 80 "c. later 308" This type is only from Alexandria. If you want to learn something about the coins of First Tetrarchy, now you can at that site. Show us something related!
That's so cool. I've never seen any coins of Dio with those attributes before. Very cool bits of history on that page too. I didn't know about the co-Ceasars. I thought they learned their lesson after Geta/Caracalla lol
We have had several threads on these lately so I am not sure what I have shown and what not. While not high grade, I enjoy this London mint, dative case Senior Augustus follis of Maximianus. I liked the portrait style so I bought it.
Phenomenal new site, Warren!! I look forward to spending a lot of time with it. Here's a new one for me, a rare early Diocletian-only antoninianus, dated to 284 by RIC: Gotta run, but I'll pop in a few other things later...
My favorites are the post-abdication, Senior Augustus series which evidence how the tetrarchy was supposed to work until power grabs got in the way. Below are two from my collection:
Warren, Thank you. This is an excellent site. I'm just beginning to rebuild my collection of large folles of the tetrarchy and this has references and information about many of the types on my want list. Here is a recent addition - A follis of Severus from Carthage:
I have a similar post-abdication one of Maximian with Providentia and Quies: Maximian, post-abdication, AD 305-306 Roman billon follis, 8.26 g, 25 mm, 1 h. Antioch, AD 305-306. Obv: D N MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG, laureate bust, right, wearing consular robes and holding branch and mappa. Rev: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG, Providentia standing right, extending right hand to Quies standing left, holding down-facing branch and resting on scepter; I in field between them, ANT: in exergue. Refs: RIC 77b, Cohen 489, RCV 13414.
I'm intrigued by the unusual denominations from this period. Here's a pre-reform quinarius, presumably among the last of this denomination, from before the elevation of Maximian. It's the same type as the opening coin on Warren's new site: RIC 195(R2), VICTORIA AVG, 1.83g And here's a coin that might be the last denarius. It's the lightest early post-reform issue and contains no silver. (Is it the same denomination as the "1/8 folles" Warren describes here? Maybe.) As Warren notes on his site, at this point the denarius ("denarius communis") was either exclusively or almost exclusively a unit of accounting rather than an actual coin. But if any denomination at this time is a denarius, this is it: RIC 27a(R2), VTILITAS PVBLICA, Utilitas standing facing, head left, hands in drapery. 1.42g, 16.5mm. Ticinum mint. Here's an antoninianus/aurelianus issued by Carausius. Warren has one from the London mint on his site, this one is the "C" mint (Colchester?): Here's another Diocletian coin issued by a usurper, in this case Domitius Domitianus in Alexandria: Follis, RIC 18a, ex Dattari That last one is from the second issue of folles at Alexandria. I've like to assemble a mint set of first issue folles in Diocletian's name only, but I've found they aren't that easy to come by. Here's one: Heraclea, RIC 12a, first issue follis (ex Dattari) It seems I can't get enough Diocletian, but I do like the other tetrarchs too. Here's a first issue of Maximian from London. The "LON" mintmark is rare, and this example with draped loins on Genius is apparently unique: Not in RIC, Cloke & Toone 1.01.002A (this coin) I hope @Caesar_Augustus sees this thread and posts some of his stuff. (He spotted those last two coins for me... thanks again C_A!)
I have added another abdication follis to my collection this year. Maximianus Herculius - Follis Obv:– D N MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG, laureate bust right in imperial mantle, olive branch in right hand, mappa in left Rev:– PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG, Providentia standing right, extending right hand to Quies standing left, branch upward in right hand, vertical sceptre in left Minted in Serdica (S | A | F // •SM•SD•). A.D. 305-306 Reference:- RIC VI Serdica 15b 8.40 gms. 29.19 mm. 0 degrees
Here are some recent acquisitions: Early-ish follis of Maximian: Early-ish follis of Galerius from Rome (note the retrograde Z): Constantius follis from Carthage, note the hair detail: Galerius follis from Treveri. This one is just under 7g with some interesting hair details.
Thanks Warren, very educationnal and inspiring website Maximianus, Abdication Follis - Serdica mint, 1st officina, AD 305-306 DN MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG, laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding mappa and olive branch PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QUIES AVGG, Quies and Providentia, facing each other, S | F in field, .SM.SD. at exergue, officina A 10,70 gr Ref : Cohen #489, RCV # 13408 (220), RIC VI # 15b Q
Latest addition from @Valentinian (http://augustuscoins.com/).. I do suggest our new members check out the site.. there are some real gems available at very reasonable prices. Diocletian, 284-305 28-27 mm. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI Cyzicus mint
