There is a series of coins from Siscia issued for Maximianus and Diocletian with a secret code. In 1872, the Viennese numismatist Joseph Van Kolb was the first person (at least recorded in modern times) who figured out the meaning of these coins. Diocletian and Maximianus claimed lineage with the gods; which is why the reverse legend translates as "Defender/Protector of the Augusti." In the East, Diocletian was in the family of Jupiter and in the West, Maximianus was in the family of Hercules. These coins have the names of the gods incorporated into the reverses. The coins of Diocletian have a reverse with him and Jupiter and the reverses for Maximianus depict him and Hercules. The normal Hercules reverse is leaning on a club, but a rarer type has him holding the club with a lion skin.
There is a theory that Diocletian and Maximianus started to proclaim their relationship with Jupiter and Hercules because of the revolt of Carausius. It was "an attempt to impose a divine order on the administering of the Empire, a "cosmic unity" that would automatically exclude any usurper from a place within the Empire." (In Praise of Later Roman Emperors pg 48) It is impossible to prove, but an interesting idea.
see: William Seston "Diocletien et la Tetrarchie"
Here is a quote from Lactantius, a Christian author of the 4th century, who mocks the Tetrarchy for their affiliation with the pagan gods--
"Where now are the surnames of the Jovii and the Herculii, once so glorious and renowned among the nations; surnames insolently assumed at first by Diocles and Maximian, and afterwards transferred to their successors?" Lactantius LII
The first part of the mint mark for this issue reads XXI, which must be a mark of value-- twenty parts copper to one part silver. The next bit is the code, which is in Greek. There were three workshops in the Siscia mint at this time-- workshop A, B and gamma.
The workshop (A,B,G) can be in the exergue (bottom) as part of the mint mark or separate, in the left or right field. In the mintmark it is sometimes separated from XXI by a dot.
workshop A= I, workshop B= O and workshop gamma = BI I/O/BI for Jupiter (Diocletian)
workshop A= HP, workshop B= KOY and workshop Γ = AI HP/KOY/AI for Hercules (Maximianus)
Diocletian-- Jupiter
Diocletian
A.D. 289- 290
AE Antoninianus 23mm 4.0g
IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right.
CONSERVATOR AVGG; Diocletian stg. r., and Jupiter stg. l., sacrificing at altar, each holding sceptre; A in left field.
In ex. •XXI•I•
RIC V Siscia 263
Diocletian
A.D. 289- 290
AE Antoninianus 23mm 3.5g
IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right, slight drapery over left shoulder.
CONSERVATOR AVGG; Diocletian stg. r., and Jupiter stg. l., sacrificing at altar, each holding sceptre.
In ex. XXIB•O
RIC V Siscia 263
Diocletian
A.D. 289- 290
AE Antoninianus 25mm 4.5g
IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right.
CONSERVATOR AVGG; Diocletian stg. r., and Jupiter stg. l., sacrificing at altar, each holding sceptre; gamma in left field.
In ex. XXI•BI•
RIC V Siscia 263
Maximianus-- HPKOYAI
Maximianus
A.D. 289- 290
AE Antoninianus
22mm 3.6g
IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left.
CONSERVATOR AVGG; Maximianus holding sceptre, and Hercules, leaning on club; standing face to face, sacrificing at altar.
In ex. •A•XXI•HP•
RIC Vii Siscia 580
bust type not listed in RIC
Maximianus
A.D. 289- 290
22x23mm 3.7g
IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P AVG; heroic nude bust right, with drapery over shoulders.
CONSERVATOR AVGG; Maximianus holding sceptre, and Hercules, leaning on club; standing face to face, sacrificing at altar; B in right field
In ex. XXIKOY
RIC V Siscia 581
Bust type not listed in RIC
Maximianus
A.D. 289- 290
AE Antoninianus 23mm 3.2g
IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear.
CONSERVATOR AVGG; Maximianus holding sceptre, and Hercules, leaning on club; standing face to face, sacrificing at altar; gamma in right.
In ex. •XXI•AI•
RIC V Siscia 580 var. (bust type)
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Posted 12/27/2024 07:10 am
