Diocletian was proclaimed emperor in 284 AD and consolidated his position by defeating Carinus at the battle of the River Margus in 285 AD. This made him sole ruler of the Roman Empire. However, he surprised everyone by taking his close associate, Maximian, as joint ruler with Diocletian ruling the East and Maximian, the west.
The coinage was re-vitalised and the economic decline was slowed down.
In 293 AD, this system of joint rule was extended with both "Augustii" adopting junior emperors as "Caesars". Maximian chose Constantius, and Diocletian, Galerius.
At this time, Carausius, a soldier who had been sent to clear the English Channel of pirates, had declared himself emperor and taken up residence in Britain. Constantius was sent to sort out the problem. This he managed in 296 AD.
In 305 AD Diocletian and Maximinian abdicated and Constantius and Galerius were promoted to Augustii with Maximinus Daia and Severus respectively to taking their places as Caesars.
In 305 AD Constantius was back in Britain, fighting the pesky Scottish tribes. The next year he died at York, with his son, Constantine, by his side. Constantine was ambitious and set out to become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire.
One of Constantine's adversaries was Maxentius, son of Maximian. Before doing battle with him near Rome, Constantine is alleged to have seen a Christian Cross light up the sky and heard the words, "By this sign shall you conquer". Constantine won at the Battle of Milvian Bridge and consequently made the entire Roman Empire Christian.
In 324 AD, Constantine defeated his last enemy, Licinius, and thus became master of the Roman Empire. But he did not make Rome his capital, but built a new one at Byzantium which he called Constantinople; a portentous move. He had plenty of sons and other eager relatives with whom to share his rule, but the split between East and West had begun.
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Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Antoninianus of Ticinum
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Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Antoninianus of Antioch
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Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Antoninianus of Siscia
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Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Follis of Alexandria
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Diocletian
284 - 305 AD
Post-reform radiate of Cyzicus
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Domitius Domitianus
286 - 287 AD
Follis of Alexandria
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Carausius
287 - 293 AD
Antoninianus of London
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Allectus
293 - 296 AD
Antoninianus of London
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Allectus
293 - 296 AD
Quinarius of Camulodunum
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
AR Argenteus of Ticinum
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Antoninianus of Lugdunum
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Antoninianus of Lugdunum
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Antoninianus of Tripolis
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Follis of Antioch
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Follis of Aquileia
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
Post Reform radiate of Cyzicus
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Maximianus
1st reign 286-305 AD
AE Quarter Follis of Siscia
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Maximianus
Abdication 305-306 AD
Follis of Rome
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Maximianus
2nd reign 306-308 AD
Follis of Rome
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Maximianus
Commemorative under Constantine
Half Follis of Thessalonica
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Constantius I
As Caesar 293-305 AD
AR Argenteus of Rome
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Constantius I
As Caesar 293-305 AD
Follis of Antioch
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Constantius I
As Augustus 305-306 AD
Follis of Carthage
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Theodora
Wife of Constantine
AE4 of Trier
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Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
AR Argenteus of Nicomedia
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Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
Follis of Aquileia
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Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
Follis of Carthage
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Galerius as Caesar
293-305 AD
Follis of London
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Galerius as Augustus
305-311 AD
Follis of Alexandria
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Galeria Valeria
wife of Galerius
Follis of Thessalonica
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Severus II
Caes. 305-306 AD: Aug. 306-307 AD
Follis of Cyzicus
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Severus II
Caes. 305-306 AD: Aug. 306-307 AD
Quarter Follis of Siscia
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Maximinus II as Caesar
Caes. 305-308 AD: Aug. 309-313 AD
Follis of Nicomedia
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Maximinus II as Filius Augustorum
308-309 AD
Follis of Thessalonika
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Maximinus II as Augustus
Aug. 309-313 AD
Follis of London
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Maximinus II as Augustus
Aug. 309-313 AD
Follis of Heraclea
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Maximinus II as Augustus
309-313 AD
Base silver Argenteus
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Maxentius
Caes. 306 AD: Aug. 306-312 AD
Follis of Aquileia
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Maxentius
Caes. 306 AD: Aug. 306-312 AD
Follis of Aquileia
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Maxentius
Caes. 306 AD: Aug. 306-312 AD
Follis of Ostia
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Romulus d. 309 AD
Son of Maxentius
Follis of Ostia
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Alexandria
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Antioch
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of London
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Nicomedia
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Follis of Heraclea
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Base silver Argenteus of Trier
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Arles
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Licinius I
308 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Thessalonika
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Licinius II
Caesar 317 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Alexandria
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Licinius II
Caesar 317 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Antioch
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Licinius II
Caesar 317 - 324 AD
Cententionalis of Rome
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Constantine I as Caesar
306-307 AD
Follis of Rome
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Constantine I as Caesar
306-307 AD
Follis of London
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Constantine I as Filius Augustorum
308-309 AD
Follis of Thessalonica
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Follis of Trier
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Follis of Rome
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Follis of Rome
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Base silver Argenteus of Trier
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of London
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Trier
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of London
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Trier
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Imitative Cententionalis
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Imitative Cententionalis of Arelate
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Ticinum
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Lyons
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Heraclea
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Constantinople
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Arelate
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Arelate
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Constantinople
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Alexandria
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Cententionalis of Constantinople
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Constantine I as Augustus
309-337 AD
Dedication of Constantinople
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Constantine I Commemorative
309-337 AD
Reduced Cententionalis of Trier
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Roma Commemorative
330-346 A.D.
Reduced Cententionalis of Siscia
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Constantinopolis Commemorative
330-346 A.D.
Reduced Cententionalis of Arles
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Fausta
Wife of Constantine
Cententionalis of Trier
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Helena Wife of Constantius I
Mother of Constantine
Cententionalis of Trier
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Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of Heraclea
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Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of Siscia
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Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of Thessalonika
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Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of London
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Crispus
Caesar 317 - 326 AD
Cententionalis of London
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Delmatius Caesar
335 - 337 AD
Reduced Cententionalis of Siscia
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Hanniballianus
Rex 335 - 337 AD
Reduced Cent of Constantinople
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