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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Tetrarchy| ▸ |Diocletian||View Options:   | | | Caius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus was a man of humble birth who rose through the Roman military ranks on pure talent. Becoming emperor after the assassination of Carinus, Diocletian introduced many reforms that prolonged the life of the Empire, which was on the verge of total collapse before his reign. These reforms, however, eliminated most personal freedoms and turned much of the population into hereditary serfs. Diocletian was the first Roman emperor to voluntarily abdicate. He lived out his retirement in his palace on the Dalmatian coast, tending his vegetable gardens. His palace went on to become the core of the modern day city of Split. |
Eirene, or Irene (Greek for peace; the Roman equivalent was Pax), was the personification of peace and wealth, and of the spring season. Most references describe the object in Eirene's right hand as an olive branch but Copenhagen says ears of corn. We believe it might also be either a torch or rhyton, both are objects often held by Eirene. RX27448. Billon tetradrachm, Geissen 3249 var., Dattari 5670 var., Milne 4932 var., BMC Alexandria 2501, Kampmann 119.63; Emmett 4045/6 (R1), SNG Cop - (all with date L - S), VF, weight 6.127 g, maximum diameter 18.7 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 289 - 28 Aug 290 A.D.; obverse A K Γ OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse Eirene standing left, heads of grain (or torch or olive-branch?) in right, long transverse scepter in left hand, LS (year 6) left; <>ex rare date arrangement; SOLD
Diocletian, 20 November 284 - 1 May 305 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
Athena is seen here with her frequent companion Nike. RX85512. Billon tetradrachm, Geissen 3237, Milne 4851, Curtis 1963, BMC Alexandria 2484, SNG Cop 988, Dattari 5633 var. (legend break), Kampmann 119.43, Emmett 4028, F, light corrosion, weight 8.507 g, maximum diameter 18.6 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 287 - 28 Aug 288 A.D.; obverse A K Γ OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse Athena standing left, Nike in right, resting left hand on shield, LΔ (year 4) lower left; SOLD
Diocletian, 20 November 284 - 1 May 305 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
Homonoia was the goddess (or spirit or personification) of harmony, concord, unanimity, and oneness of mind. She is usually depicted either seated or standing with a cornucopia. RX40405. Billon tetradrachm, Geissen 3218; Dattari 5702, Milne 4797, Curtis 2004; SNG Cop 975; BMC Alexandria 2512; Kampmann 119.19; Emmett 4060/2 (R2), VF, weight 8.413 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 287 - 28 Aug 288 A.D.; obverse A K Γ OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right from behind; reverse Homonoia standing left, raising hand and holding double cornucopia, L - B (year 2) across fields, star above left; scarce; SOLD
In theory, the Roman Empire was not divided by the dual imperium of Diocletian and Maximian. Each emperor had his own court, army, and official residences, but these were matters of practicality, not substance. Imperial propaganda insisted on a singular and indivisible Rome, a patrimonium indivisum. Legal rulings were given and imperial celebrations took place in both emperors' names, and the same coins were issued in both parts of the empire. Diocletian sometimes issued commands to Maximian's province of Africa; Maximian could presumably have done the same for Diocletian's territory.BB02527. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 325; Cohen VI 280; SRCV IV 12671, aVF, weight 3.95 g, maximum diameter 21.9 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 285 A.D.; obverse IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG (to Jove the protector of the two Emperors), Emperor (on left) and Jupiter standing confronted, Emperor in military garb, holding short scepter, Jupiter nude but for paludamentum on shoulders presenting Victory on a globe, leaning on long scepter in left hand, crescent horns up over S in center, XXI in exergue; SOLD
In late summer 285, Diocletian defended the Danube against Sarmatian raids and transferred his capital to Nicomedia (Turkey).BB52675. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 162, aVF, weight 3.028 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 285 - 286 A.D.; obverse IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG (to Jupiter the protector of the two emperors), Jupiter standing left, thunderbolt in right, long scepter in left hand, XXIB in exergue; attractive aquamarine patina; SOLD
Diocletian, 20 November 284 - 1 May 305 A.D.
| The ruins of Antioch on the Orontes lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. Founded near the end of the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch's geographic, military and economic location, particularly the spice trade, the Silk Road, the Persian Royal Road, benefited its occupants, and eventually it rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the Near East and as the main center of Hellenistic Judaism at the end of the Second Temple period. Antioch is called "the cradle of Christianity," for the pivotal early role it played in the emergence of the faith. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian tetrapolis. Its residents are known as Antiochenes. Once a great metropolis of half a million people, it declined to insignificance during the Middle Ages because of warfare, repeated earthquakes and a change in trade routes following the Mongol conquests, which then no longer passed through Antioch from the far east. |  |
When Diocletian split Pannonia into four provinces, Siscia became the capital of Pannonia Savia. It contained the mint and treasury, and was the station of the small fleet kept on the Savus. Siscia maintained its importance until Sirmium began to rise, for in proportion as Sirmium rose, Siscia declined.BB24129. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 278, Cohen VI 478, Hunter IV -, VF, weight 3.514 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 180o, Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) mint, c. 292 A.D.; obverse IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGG (victory of the two emperors), Emperor (on left) and Jupiter standing confronted, Emperor in military garb, holding short scepter, Jupiter nude but for paludamentum on shoulders presenting Victory on a globe, leaning on long scepter in left hand, Γ in center, XXI in exergue; SOLD
BB51472. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 162, F, weight 2.646 g, maximum diameter 23.0 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 285 - 286 A.D.; obverse IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG (to Jupiter the protector of the two emperors), Jupiter standing left, thunderbolt in right, long scepter in left hand, XXIB in exergue; SOLD
The reverse likely refers to improvements to the walls and new public buildings erected in Antioch by Diocletian. This type was struck only by the first officina.RT94960. Billon follis (large), RIC VI Carthago 27a (S), Hunter V 61, SRCV IV 12827, Cohen VI 437, aF, earthen deposits, scratches, weight 11.114 g, maximum diameter 28.3 mm, die axis 180o, Carthage (near Tunis, Tunisia) mint, 298 - 299 A.D.; obverse IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, head laureate right, large head; reverse SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS AVCTA KART (the Emperors and Caesars safe, Carthage is enhanced), Carthago standing facing, holding up fruits in both hands, A in exergue; scarce; SOLD
In 296, after the Sassanid king Narseh declared war on Rome and invaded Armenia, Diocletian dispatched his son-in-law Galerius with a large army. Galerius was completely defeated near Carrhae and forced to retreat across the Euphrates to join Diocletian at Antioch. At Antioch, Diocletian forced Galerius to walk, still clad in the purple robes of an emperor, a mile in advance of his imperial cart. The message was clear: the loss at Carrhae was not due to the failings of the soldiers, but due to the failings of their commander.BB59208. Copper post-reform radiate, SRCV IV 12835, Cohen VI 34, RIC VI Antiochia 60a corr. (laureate head), Hunter V 102 var. (5th officina), VF, nice desert patina, weight 2.823 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, 4th officina, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 296 A.D.; obverse IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse CONCORDIA MILITVM (harmony with the soldiers), Diocletian on left, standing right, wearing military garb, baton (or parazonium) in left hand, receiving from Victory from Jupiter with right hand, Victory standing on globe and offering wreath, Jupiter on right, standing left, nude but for paludamentum over shoulders, long scepter vertical in left hand, * / Δ in low center, ANT in exergue; SOLD
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