Diocletian Tet of Alexandria

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by ancient coin hunter, Sep 26, 2017.

  1. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Diocletian and Maximian were the last rulers to strike billon tetradrachms of Alexandria. So in a sad way, the monetary reforms they enacted ended a remarkable tradition of Roman rulers issuing these coins for the folks of Alexandria and presumably circulating throughout Roman Egypt.

    What could one purchase with such a coin? Who knows. But it is true that the size, weight, and metal quality diminished over time particularly in the third century when the antoninianus was debased beyond recognition. So here is an example of one of the last tets issued during the Imperial period. This one comes from @John Anthony 's auction of last week where I was the fortunate winner.

    Type: Potin Tetradrachm
    Obverse: A K ΓOYA L DIOKLHTIANOC CEB
    Laureate bust of Diocletian right
    Reverse: Eusebia left, sacrificing, dropping incense onto altar
    LE Year 5, 288 A.D.
    Reference: Milne 4896

    diocles1.jpg
    diocles2.jpg
    Feel free to post your Diocletian tets or any Alexandrian coins you please! Thanks for looking.
     
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  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    I liked that one but got an older one from JA prior.

    [​IMG]
    Diocletian, (284 - 305 A.D.)
    Potin Tetradrachm
    O.: A K Γ OYA Λ ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB; Laureate, cuirassed bust right.
    R.: Alexandria standing left holding head of Serapis and scepter, star to right, L-Є across fields (Year 5).
    Alexandria mint, 288/289 A.D.
    20mm
    6.6g
    Milne 4915, Curtis 1956
     
  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Cool! Here's a tet of Diocletian from my collection:

    Diocletian Alexandrian Tetradrachm.jpg
    Diocletian, AD 284-305
    Roman billon tetradrachm, 19.2 mm, 7.24 g, 12:00
    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.
     
  5. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Great OP coin. I dont have an Alexandrian tet for him, but Ill share my favorite Alexandriam Tet, of Emperor Probus.

    3ckHaAp2L45noEM7B8aF9xTq85qWtE.jpg
     
  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I'm not certain how I feel about these Tets. Some I like okay, and some, well...
    Diocletian 4.jpg
    DIOCLETIAN
    Tetradrachm
    OBVERSE: A K Γ OYAΛ ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate draped bust right
    REVERSE: LA, Elpis standing left, holding flower, a long sash (?) hanging from her arm, & clutching hem of robe.
    Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 284/285 AD
    6.6g, 20mm
    Milne 4750
    Diocletian 6.jpg
    DIOCLETIAN
    Potin Tetradrachm
    OBVERSE: AV G OVA DIOKLHTIANOC CEB, laureate, cuirassed bust right
    REVERSE: Athena standing left, holding Nike in right hand,shield in left hand, year LD in left field
    Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 286-287 AD
    8.3g, 19mm
    Milne 4750
     
  7. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Perhaps we should mention that when the series ended in 296 (L IB for Diocletian) there were also coins for Constantius I and Galerius Caesares and the usurper Domitius Domitianus.

    The latest I have are these two year nines with date spelled out L ENATOV to avoid use of the unlucky theta (first letter in the word for death). Who has a 296 coin?
    pa2690b01950lg.jpg pa2695bb3203.jpg
     
  8. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Cool posts!!

    And I'll pile on with this often posted tet of Claudius Gothicus....

    Claudius II Tet Potin Tet Alexandria  year I.jpg
     
  9. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Oh! Oh! Me! Me! <<waving hand to the annoyance of the rest of the class>> :)

    Maximianus, year 11 (295/6) (ex Emmett collection; this is Emmett 4114)
    Screen Shot 2017-09-26 at 7.05.26 PM.png

    I went on a quest for one of these final-year tets a while ago. (They do seem to command a premium.) The 295/6 tets are as follows:

    Diocletian year 12 (IB)
    Maximianus year 11 (IA)
    Constantius year 4 (Δ)
    Galerius year 4 (Δ)
    Domitius Domitianus year 2 (B)

    (Source: Coins of Roman Egypt)
     
  10. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

  11. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Technically as Doug said other tetrarchs issued tetradrachms up to the point when their issue was discontinued and the striking of folles started, plus the usurper Domitius Domitianus. So while Diocletian and Maximian were "last" so were the other guys...
     
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